Qatar Airways Plans for Future Without First Class on Long-Haul
- Al Baker says business class offers many of the same perks
- Qatar looks to Australia to push expansion, CEO says
A first-class passenger booth in an Qatar Airways passenger aircraft.
Photographer: Jason AldenThis article is for subscribers only.
The world’s best airline is cooling on the world’s fanciest cabin seat.
Qatar Airways, which routinely pockets the top prize at the Skytrax World Airline Awards, won’t have first-class berths on its next-generation long-haul aircraft, according to Chief Executive Officer Akbar Al Baker. Al Baker said the investment in the most luxurious seats doesn’t justify the returns, given that Qatar’s business-class offering provides much of the same perks.