Airbus Updates No.2869

 

Qatar Airways To Launch Airbus A350 Flights To San Francisco

Qatar Airways is expanding US footprint, adding flights to San Francisco this winter. The 15-hour route will be flown using one of Qatar’s A350s, which features the renowned QSuite business class. Flights will begin from 15th December and operate four times a week, officially making it Qatar’s ninth destination in the US.

Qatar Airways will deploy its A350-900 on the new San Francisco route. Photo: Qatar Airways

San Francisco to see flights from Doha

Qatar will start direct flights between Doha and San Francisco this winter. The airline hopes to capitalize on strong traffic out of Silicon Valley and connect thousands of passengers from countries worldwide. The airline highlights the city’s popularity as a key business and leisure destination. Qatar is the second Middle Eastern carrier to offering flights to San Francisco after Emirates.

The route will operate on Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday. Flight time is nearly 15.5 hours in either direction. The flight departs Doha at 08:55 and arrives in San Francisco at 12:55. On the return leg, the flight leaves San Francisco at 14:55 and arrives in Doha at 17:15 the next day. All times are in respective local time.

Ninth US destination

With the inclusion of San Francisco, Qatar will serve nine US cities by the end of 2020. The destinations currently seeing flights are Boston, Chicago, Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston, Los Angeles, New York, Philadelphia, and Washington, D.C.

Qatar is one of the few carriers adding routes in 2020, even as it’s Middle East competitors cut down destinations, including in the US. Since the pandemic took hold in March, the airline has added five new routes. This reflects the airline’s optimism that travel will bounce back in the coming years, and when it does, Qatar aims to lead the pack.

Qatar has also filed plans to restart flights to Miami in December, but these plans could be subject to change depending on demand. Atlanta, meanwhile, remains suspended for the winter season as well, according to Routesonline.

A350-900 to make the hop

Qatar will deploy its Airbus A350-900 aircraft to make the long-haul journey between the two cities. The aircraft is one of the quietest and most comfortable in the industry, making it an ideal choice for the route. This A350 variant has 283 seats in total, with 37 QSuite business class seats and 247 economy seats.

This isn’t the A350’s first trip to the US. Qatar extensively uses the type on long-haul flights to the country. For passengers lucky enough, the standout will be QSuites, often known as the best business class in the industry. The product features a high door and spacious layout, making long-haul journeys extremely luxurious and comfortable.

Passengers in economy won’t be too bad off either. With 18″ wide seats and 32″ of pitch, Qatar offers a fairly comfortable seat. Combined with the A350’s newer cabin design, ultra-long-haul in Qatar is survivable.

The A350 features Qatar’s impressive QSuite business class seat. Photo: Sumit Rehal / Simple Flying

Qatar Airways seems to be seizing every opportunity it can, hoping to come out stronger after the downturn. Whether this strategy works is to be seen, but passengers will continue to reap the benefits of more connectivity.