A Tale of Accomplishments

From the famous Qsuites to the economical safety, from world-class smart designing to technical advancements, Qatar Airways has been an exemplary airline for its peers across the globe. A winner of many awards for being the best business class airline and for offering best business class travel, as well as the airline staff, Qatar Airways has once again managed to step under the spotlight with the Savannah-based Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation’s recent announcement that Qatar Airways has been chosen as the launch customer of its new flagship Gulfstream G700 aircraft for the airline’s charter service, Qatar Executive (QE). The announcement was made during the annual National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) Business Aviation Convention Exhibition (NBAA-BACE) held at the Las Vegas Convention Center from October 22 to October 24, 2019 where the G700 was unveiled.

Qatar Airways has placed an order for ten aircraft of this type for Qatar Executive. The Gulfstream aircraft’s expected delivery is in 2022. Recently, the airline had also announced orders of all-new Gulfstream G500 and high-performing G650ER aircraft. Currently, there are 11 Gulfstream aircraft operated under Qatar Executive, including six G650ERs and five G500s. Qatar Executive charter service is the largest commercial operator of the G650ER in the world and the first commercial charter operator of the G500. And now it is all set to enhance its fleet with the addition of the latest Gulfstream G700 that carries with its remarkable combination of technology, performance, and cabin size. Gulfstream introduced the G700 as the industry’s new flagship. It boasts business aviation’s largest cabin and can fly farther as well as faster than any competitor in the business-jet industry.

Whether it is a licensing deal, a joint venture, or a revenue-sharing arrangement, regardless of the form they take, partnerships and alliances have been aimed at maximising the strengths and expertise of each partner and make way for good business. Qatar Airways and Qatar Executive have time and again displayed this aspect by utilising strategical integration in whichever form it came throughout its journey.

THE QATAR STORY

The national airline of the State of Qatar, Qatar Airways, is today a big success story of the aviation industry, more so in the business aviation sector. It was in 1994 when the airline began operations as a small regional carrier serving just a few routes. Qatar Airways has been demonstrating one of the fastest growth among the carriers since 1997, when the airline was relaunched under the mandate of His Highness The Father Emir, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani. He is the one who outlined a vision to turn Qatar Airways into a leading international airline with the highest standards of service and excellence and that vision only seems to have strengthened through the years.

The airline operates corporate jets like Bombardier Challenger 605s, Bombardier Global 5000s and a Global Express XRS, for its executive subsidiary Qatar Executive, launched in 2009. Qatar Executive continues to expand its operations with more and more business jets being added to its fleet that comprises of a combination of Gulfstream’s new wide-cabin aircraft, the G500 and G600, and the existing G650ER.

Qatar Executive, together with the One More Orbit team made history by beating the world circumnavigation speed record for any aircraft flying over the North and South poles

By the year-end, the private jet charter concern expects to function with a fleet of 21 aircraft. A division of Qatar Airways Group, the VIP operator is set to expand by adding six Gulfstreams to a fleet that as of June this year comprised of 18 state-of-the-art private aircraft. Qatar Executive’s fleet includes six Gulfstream G650ERs, four Gulfstream G500s, three Bombardier Challenger 605s, four Global 5000s, and one Global XRS. Additionally, more G500s and G650s are to be added this year and the next year, followed by the most recent G700. Having taken the delivery of the two G500s last year, Qatar Executive became the world’s first commercial charter operator of the Gulfstream twinjet. Headquartered at Doha International Airport, luxury jet services are available for worldwide charter on board the operator’s wholly-owned business jet fleet. In July this year, Qatar Executive announced to purchase 18 more aircraft from Gulfstream Aerospace Corp.

In March this year, Qatar Executive made an announcement of having received special certification to allow it to fly into a number of European airports surrounded by mountainous terrain, now being able to fly into Samedan, Switzerland; Chambery, France; and Innsbruck, Austria. “These destinations have a special designation as they require additional certification, including full-flight simulator training, to prepare the flight crew because of the mountainous environment of these destinations,” the company said. This additional certification is another highlight that will help the airline in enhancing its business, fleet as well as the reach.

A class apart luxury combined with latest technologies and the consistency in providing efficient service and constant improvement with new products like Qsuite, a special website, etc., Qatar Executive has managed to be among the best and the most preferred business aviation airline.

Qatar Executive’s efficiency was proven again this year during the One More Orbit mission. Qatar Executive, together with the One More Orbit team made history by beating the world circumnavigation speed record for any aircraft flying over the North and South poles, in celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing.

The QE Gulfstream G650ER departed Cape Canaveral, the home of NASA, on July 9, 2019, at 9.32 am to begin its pole to pole mission. The One More Orbit team were on board, consisting of NASA astronaut Terry Virts and Action Aviation Chairman Hamish Harding, while the Qatar Executive crew consisted of three pilots Jacob Obe-Bech, Jeremy Ascough and Yevgen Vasylenko, engineer Benjamin Reuger and flight attendant Magdalena Starowicz.

The mission was split into the four sectors; NASA Shuttle landing facility in Florida to Astana, Astana to Mauritius, Mauritius to Chile and Chile back to NASA, Florida, with refueling pit stops in each location. The aircraft landed at Kennedy Space Centre on July 11, 2019, successfully setting a new world record of flying pole to pole in 46 hours, 39 minutes and 38 seconds.

This mission marked yet another milestone achieved by Business Aviation. Such an achievement and the milestone have further enhanced the recognition for QE and uplifted the contribution it has done to the Business Aviation industry.

“In partnering with Qatar Executive, we knew we would have an amazing team of pilots and crew at the mission’s disposal. They chose their three most experienced G650 captains and I was honored to be the fourth captain with them. Qatar Executive also selected a flight attendant and an engineer who could support the team on the flight based on their extensive experience on G650s and who had the right personality to work as a tightly meshed team. That way by choosing to partner with QE, we managed to finally bring our dream to a reality,” said Captain Hamish Harding, Action Aviation Chairman and Mission Director for &rlsquo;One More Orbit’ in an exclusive interview with BizAvIndia.

It was in 2009 at the Paris Air Show that Qatar Airways had first announced the formation of its corporate jet subsidiary, Qatar Executive as part of the airline’s ongoing robust global growth strategy, and continued commitment to the Middle East and global business travel community.

In 2015 Qatar Executive had announced the expansion of QE into aircraft management as well. A press release had read, “The service Qatar Executive provides aircraft owners with is tailored to each individual’s requirements, but generally includes taking care of the entire flight operation, trip planning, and the allocation of highly experienced pilots and flight attendants, right up to the organization of catering and all ground arrangements including fueling, hangar parking and cleaning of the aircraft in Doha and worldwide.”

Qatar Executive’s service portfolio includes aircraft management, airliner charter, maintenance and FBO services.