Qatar Airways has taken delivery of its first Airbus A380 superjumbo, ending a three-month standoff with the planemaker over the quality of its cabin fittings.

The Gulf airline took delivery of the first of 10 A380s it has ordered at a ceremony in Hamburg, Germany, and plans to introduce it on flights between Doha and London Heathrow.

It had previously rejected the first three aircraft after declaring itself unhappy with the cabin fittings as it vies with other Gulf carriers to offer luxury interiors on the world's largest passenger jet, but said the issue had now been resolved.

Present at the event were Akbar Al Baker, Qatar Airways Group chief executive, and Fabrice Brégier, Airbus president and CEO.

The A380, with its unique combination of increased capacity, long-haul range and unbeatable fuel efficiency, will enable the airline to carry its passengers even further and at deluxe comfort standards, Airbus said.

The A380’s built-in cabin flexibility has given Qatar Airways the opportunity to make innovative use of the aircraft’s space, offering the airline’s passengers an exceptional in-flight experience, it added.

All seats are equipped with the latest entertainment systems. The A380 will accommodate a total of 517 people – 461 in Economy, 48 in Business and eight in First Class, featuring the widest first-class seats in the industry.

The aircraft has two full-length passenger decks - First and Business Class cabins will both be located on the aircraft’s upper deck, along with a special lounge area for premium passengers.

Al Baker said: “By introducing the A380 to our ever expanding fleet, it will strengthen Doha’s position as a key regional and global aviation hub. As we are continuously reviewing our passenger offering to always provide the very best in class, for us the arrival of the A380 opens a new chapter in the unparalleled, signature service we provide to travellers on board with Qatar Airways.”

“We are very pleased to welcome Qatar Airways as the latest airline to offer unprecedented A380 services to the world. The multi-award-winning carrier and our flagship product are a perfect match to excite the flying public in all markets,” said Brégier.

Qatar Airways is the 12th world class carrier to fly the A380. The airline’s first A380 will make its debut on the popular London Heathrow route, from Hamad International in Doha, followed by Paris Charles de Gaulle.

With 318 orders so far by 19 customers the A380 captures 90 per cent of the Very Large Aircraft market. With the delivery today, the global A380 fleet mounts up to 142 aircraft, having accumulated over 1.5 million flight hours on some 180,000 commercial flights. – Reuters and TradeArabia News Service