Qatar Airways will retire all Boeing 777-200LR and -300ER aircraft by 2024, replacing the type with B777X airframes instead.
Speaking to Executive Traveller, the airline’s CEO said the retirement will be part of a push to attain “carbon-neutral growth over a period of time”. Qatar will consequently delay any aircraft deliveries until 2022, as COVID-19 continues to cause uncertainty over the airline’s operations.
Summary of Retirements
| Aircraft | Number in Fleet | Retirement By |
| Boeing 777-200LR | 9 | 2024 |
| Boeing 777-300ER | 48 | 2024 |
| Airbus A380-800 | 10 | 2028 |
| Airbus A330-200 | 6 | 2022 |
| Airbus A330-300 | 13 | 2022 |
| Airbus A320-200 | 31 | 2024 |
Summary of Airframe Replacements
| Aircraft | Replacing | Number Ordered | Delivery Date |
| Boeing 777-8 (X) | 777-200LR | 10 | 2022-2025 |
| Boeing 777-9 (X) | 777-300ER | 50 | 2028-TBA |
| Airbus A350-1000* | A330-200/300 | 29 | 2022-TBA |
| Boeing 787-9^ | A330-200/300 | 23 +7 (in storage) | 2022-TBA |
| Airbus A321neo | A320-200 | 40 | 2022-2024 |
^Note: 30 B787-8 aircraft are in service, however these will be swapped for newer -9 models
“We are retiring the entire (Airbus) A330 fleet now, we are retiring all the 777s over the next three to four years, we are retiring the A320 aeroplanes.”
His Excellency Akbar Al Baker, CEO, Qatar Airways Group (via Executive Traveller)
Qatar Airways is planning to operate only Boeing 777-8/9 (X) aircraft by 2025; meaning all current B777 aircraft will have to retire by 2024, according to Executive Traveller.
Keeping with a green-push, Qatar’s B777X aircraft will be fitted with General Electric GE9X engines; these engines are capable of burning 10% less fuel than existing B777 GEnx engines.
Akbar Al Baker also confirmed that all B777X aircraft will feature an improved Qsuite business class product, likely boasting higher comfort and improved privacy.
Once the initial B777-8 aircraft are delivered, Qatar is considering implementing exclusive First Class seats for a niche market; these will likely be fitted exclusively on routes from Doha to Europe. Currently Qatar only has First Class on their A380’s, although Al Baker told Executive Traveller that the new First Class will be “very unique, so we need time to develop it”.
A380’s Headed for the Desert
Qatar’s CEO also advised that all Airbus A380-800 aircraft will be put in retirement by 2028; corresponding with the last B777-9 deliveries.
“I’m going to retire my A380s on their 10th anniversary…starting from the next four years our first A380s will start going to the desert, because there is no point keeping these expensive gas guzzlers with very little return on our investment.”
His Excellency Akbar Al Baker, CEO, Qatar Airways Group (via Executive Traveller)
Article Sources: Executive Traveller and ch-aviation.
Imagine if the pilot and management of the Arab airlines were camel riders thinking that camel can ride without water for many days. All pilots and cabin crew union should boycott these airlines in respect to in human treatment of the crew
I just do not understand airlines like Singapore,Emirates,Qatar who seem to retire planes well before their ‘sell by date’! How many do they actually sell on? Most ,i assume are broken up for parts where these planes could still bring years worth of revenue to these airlines!
Qantas are finally getting rid of old B747’s and moth-balling A380’s to demand returns as i would assume they want to still earn some revenue out of those planes before they go to the scrapper yet Singapore,Air France and half of Lufthansa are already being scrapped? Crazy…they have not earn’t back the money yet i would presume or made enough past that to deem its time to say goodbye! Fuel cost savings cannot be that beneficial as the A380 was designed to be fuel efficient even with four engines ! So Qatar is mad.Its like they are so rich they can just throw it too the sands……
The B777 X i have heard mutterings of similar issues with the Max programme?? Whether this is true ,i do not know but that would be terrible if yet again Boeing has been a cheapskate and created a new version of plane based on on an old design thats not upto standards?? I for one think A350 Neo and A350 Super-Size ,when those 2 come in years to come, when the market is right ,with the new RR-UltraFan that will be the new biggest commercial engine in existence,’Yes’ even bigger than the GE 9X ,that will really show the B777-X for its age! Qatar i think have made an error for B777-X’s,with issues about having problems similar to the MAX programme i have read about and delays and old design up against the likes of the super A350/next generations A350’s that will wipe the floor to the B777-X programme! I would wait and use their B777’s more first and then await the better plane to come.I also think they will loose customers to Etihad who will choose to fly on their A380’s that they are keeping and rather fly them than them on old B777’s as of delays to their replacements that are going to happen i think!
What Al Baker says about the A380 proves that guy is just an idiotic camel rider. Giving him these superb aircraft is like giving jam to a pig! I ‘ll never fly Qatar Airways again.