Qatar Airways has announced that it will upgauge its Doha-Guangzhou service with the introduction of its flagship Airbus A380 on the route, making it the fourth A380 destination, after London, Paris and Bangkok.

Daily flights on board the world’s largest commercial aircraft will begin on July 1 from Hamad International Airport in Doha, Qatar, to Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport in China. Passengers travelling to and from Guangzhou on Qatar Airways QR874 and QR875 will enjoy a unique and enhanced travel experience on the airline’s bespoke A380 super-jumbo aircraft.

Qatar Airways group chief executive Akbar Al Baker said: “This year marks our eighth anniversary of operations in Guangzhou and we are delighted to celebrate this milestone by introducing our bespoke A380 aircraft, re-affirming our long-standing commitment to China. The Pearl River Delta region is one of China’s most vibrant trade and travel hubs and we have witnessed steady passenger growth both to and from Guangzhou over the years. Passengers from Asia can now enjoy their entire journey on our luxurious A380 aircraft when they fly to popular cities such as London and Paris via our state-of-the-art Hamad International Airport in Doha.”

Wider seats, lower noise levels, draught-free air circulation, and accurate temperature control are among the many advancements on the A380 that keep passengers feeling fresh and comfortable during a long flight.

The 517-seat aircraft is spread across twin decks in a tri-class configuration of eight seats in First Class, 48 seats in Business Class and 461 in Economy Class. Seats in each cabin class are proprietary to Qatar Airways and have been crafted in close collaboration with the designers and manufacturers.

The First Class cabin features eight exclusive suites on the upper deck in a 1-2-1 configuration. Each seat features a 90-inch pitch with a fully lie-flat bed, 26-inch HD in-flight entertainment screen and direct aisle access. The First Class cabin also offers features such as spa-inspired bathrooms with luxurious amenities to ensure passengers enjoy a comfortable and leisurely flight.

Qatar Airways’ acclaimed Business Class cabin on the A380 features 48 seats on the upper deck in a 1-2-1 configuration, with an 80-inch full flat bed, 17-inch HD in-flight entertainment screen and direct aisle access. The upper deck also features a spacious in-flight lounge offering First and Business Class passengers an escape from the typical airplane environment, a Qatar Airways experience that is unique to the A380. In addition, First and Business Class passengers can look forward to a sumptuous on-demand à la carte service menu and luxurious Giorgio Armani amenity kits when flying with Qatar Airways.

The two Economy Class cabins on the spacious Qatar Airways A380 can be found on the upper deck in a 2-4-2 configuration and on the main deck in a 3-4-3 configuration. Each Economy Class seat is 18.5-inch wide with a 32-inch seat pitch. Coupled with the higher ceilings on the main deck and a configuration that uses fewer seats, the inflight environment contributes to a real feeling of spaciousness when onboard the A380 super-jumbo.

Travellers can indulge in luxury and spacious extravagance on their way to Guangzhou for the Canton Fair - one of China's largest import and export trade events - in October for which Qatar Airways is the official airline partner.

Qatar Airways has seen rapid growth in just 19 years of operation, to the point where today it is flying a modern fleet of 184 aircraft to more than 150 key business and leisure destinations across Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia Pacific, North America and South America. - TradeArabia News Service