Qatar Airways, the launch customer of the A350, has become the first airline to offer regularly-scheduled A350 services to the US, launching flights from Doha’s Hamad International Airport to Philadelphia on January 1.

The A350 partnership marks Qatar Airways’ strong investment in technology, superior travel experience and its commitment to maintaining one of the youngest, most advanced fleet in the sky.

Among the many advancements of the Airbus A350, the aircraft features a host of eco-efficiency tools, which combine for a 25 per cent reduction in emissions versus the current generation of airliners. The aircraft has an overall capacity of 283 passengers, including 36 Business Class seats, placed in a spacious 1-2-1 configuration.

Perhaps most welcome of all, the new aircraft boasts an extensive set of features proven to reduce jet lag. The A350 is equipped with a dynamic LED lighting system, with cycles, tones and colours to suit the time of day and destination. A high precision air management system filters the air every few minutes and is combined with lower cabin pressure and optimal humidity to counter the effects of international travel and refresh passengers on arrival.

“The A350 has transcended modern aviation standards and our only challenge has been choosing which of our over 150 destinations would be among the first to enjoy it,” said Qatar Airways group chief executive, Akbar Al Baker. “The city of Philadelphia has been an outstanding partner since we launched in 2014 and it is our pleasure to reward regional travellers with the chance to experience the future of global aviation, today.” – TradeArabia News Service