Qatar Airways has announced that it will exhibit three aircraft at the Bahrain International Airshow at the Sakhir Airbase this week.

Qatar Airways’ A350, for which it was the global launch customer, an A380 and Qatar Executive’s Bombardier Global 5000 business jet will be on static display during the airshow from January 21 to 23.

The Bahrain International Airshow, held biennially since 2010, offers visitors and participants the opportunity to visit hundreds of companies, tour the aviation world’s most popular and latest-generation aircraft, and enjoy its famous five-hour flying display with free grandstand seating for families and visitors.

Qatar Airways group chief executive, Akbar Al Baker, said: “We look forward to welcoming guests and visitors on board our very latest aircraft at the Bahrain International Airshow, and celebrating the one year anniversary of A350 operations as the global launch customer. This aircraft is the very latest in design, technology and comfort, and will make its first appearance at the air show this year, which will delight aviation enthusiasts, families and other visitors to the Middle East’s first major aviation event of 2016.”

Qatar Airways will display its A350 in Bahrain with custom interiors featuring a Business Class cabin comprising of 36 seats in a 1-2-1 configuration and Economy Class featuring 247 seats in a 3-3-3 configuration. Qatar Airways was the global launch customer of the A350 in December 2014, and is currently the largest operator of this aircraft type. The airline operates seven A350s and has 73 more A350s on order. Qatar Airways operates regular commercial service to Frankfurt, Munich, Singapore and Philadelphia on the A350.

The airline will also display its twin-deck A380 ‘super jumbo’ aircraft, the largest passenger plane in the world, which features a total of 517 seats, with eight in First Class, 48 in Business Class and 461 seats in Economy Class. Qatar Airways currently operates six A380-800s to London, Paris and Bangkok.

Qatar Airways’ private jet division, Qatar Executive, will showcase its impressive long-range Bombardier Global 5000, which features one of the widest and most spacious cabins among super-large business jets flying today. Qatar Executive’s Global 5000 features an elegant two-cabin configuration with a separate galley, allowing discreet service and maximum comfort for up to 13 passengers.

Qatar Executive has seen rapid growth of operations since its inception in 2009, and is currently flying a premium fleet of nine business jets. Last month, Qatar Executive took delivery of its first Gulfstream G650ER, one of the most sought-after business jets in the market and the world’s largest and fastest civilian aircraft. Considered also as the most technologically-advanced business jet, the aircraft is capable of flying non-stop from the Middle East to North America or from destinations in Asia to Africa – further, faster than any other jet of its kind.

Qatar Airways, the national airline of Qatar, is one of the fastest growing airlines operating one of the youngest fleets in the world. Now in its 19th year of operations, the airline operates a modern fleet of 175 aircraft flying to key business and leisure destinations across six continents. The airline currently operates seven daily flights between Bahrain and the airline’s hub in Doha, from which it flies to more than 150 destinations across Europe, the Middle East, Americas, Africa and Asia Pacific. – TradeArabia News Service