Qatar Airways finally took the wraps off its latest Business Class innovation, the Qsuite Next Gen. Revealed with much anticipation at the Farnborough Airshow last month, the seat will grace the interiors of Boeing 777-9 by 2025.
In this blog, we take a closer look at the changes and improvements the airline has introduced to provide a superior Business Class experience.
Background
Qatar Airways introduced its Qsuite Business Class seat at the ITB Berlin travel show in February 2017. It was one of the first Business Class seats with doors, and it quickly set a trend towards suite-style seating in Business Class cabins.
Qsuite remains among the top Business Class seats globally, renowned for its spacious layout that can transform up to four seats into a private 'room'. Its walls and doors are notably higher than most other Business Class suites, providing exceptional privacy.
Now, seven years later, Qatar Airways has launched an updated version of this seat, dubbed the Qsuite Next Gen.
Outdoor and Structural Improvements
The Qsuite Next Gen keeps the popular 1-2-1 all-aisle access configuration to maintain the seat privacy and accessibility that defined the original design.
The suites are arranged with half of the seats facing forward and the other half facing rearward, maintaining the visual identity of the previous Qsuite but increasing passenger convenience.
Interior and Structural Innovations
The seat has undergone a complete internal redesign. Qatar Airways has shifted from its previous partnership with Collins Aerospace to collaborate with Adient Aerospace for the new suite’s manufacturing. This means the airline tried to move towards a custom, from-the-ground-up design rather than the usual modular products that litter many Business Class cabins.
Arguably, one of the most exciting features of the new seat is a design update that improves social interaction and privacy. This new suite improves the concept of communal and partner travel with its revamped quad and companion seating options. The quad configuration now features a folding mechanism for the entertainment screens, which allows the dividers to lie flush against the suite walls, opening up a communal space in the centre without obstructions.
The newly introduced Companion Suites between window seats transform two adjacent seats into a shared, private enclave, ideal for couples or colleagues travelling together.
Technical Specifications and Comfort Features
The suite has shed some pounds, cutting down on fuel use and costs — good news for both the planet and the airline’s bottom line. A lighter suite means less fuel burned, easing the environmental impact and trimming operational expenses. However, no weight-saving details have been revealed.
Dimensionally, the suite has expanded to two inches in width, an extra inch in length, and a bed width 4.5 inches wider than its predecessor. The double bed configuration is almost 10 inches wider than before.
Technological upgrades include a 22-inch Panasonic Astrova 4K OLED monitor, wireless charging stations, and more connectivity options with USB-C, USB-A, and 110-volt outlets. Bluetooth personal headphone capability is coming soon.
Extra amenities have also been thoughtfully considered: the suite now features more storage through slide-out trays and a secure storage unit, while the meal table has been enlarged to about twice the size of those found in typical Business Class cabins.
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Rollout Schedule
Qatar Airways is eyeing a 2025 launch for its Qsuite Next Gen on the eagerly awaited Boeing 777-9 aircraft. This timeline reflects the industry’s broader anticipation for the 777-9, which has faced its share of developmental delays. Qatar Airways remains optimistic about its delivery schedule, with the first aircraft expected to be flying Qatar’s flagship routes by late 2025.
The rollout of the Qsuite Next Gen won’t stop with the 777-9. Qatar plans to gradually introduce this next-generation suite across its newer widebody fleets. While the immediate focus is on the 777-9, there’s potential for future expansions to include other aircraft types, contingent on its success and operational integration.
For now, Qatar Airways hasn't committed to retrofitting its existing fleet with the new suites, likely waiting to see how the initial installations perform and how passengers respond.
Final Thoughts
Qsuite Next Gen builds impressively on the foundations laid by the original Qsuite introduced by Qatar Airways in 2017. While the original Qsuite set the standard with its privacy doors and the option to create double beds or quads, the Next Gen version refines these features and introduces even more functionality and luxury.
Key improvements include:
- The tallest suite walls in the Business Class segment.
- The option to merge four suites into quads for a genuine face-to-face experience.
- Expanded bed dimensions and enlarged tray tables, coupled with the latest technological upgrades.
These upgrades will surely impact how travellers use their Qatar Airways Avios, potentially making it more appealing to use Avios on Qatar. Now, the anticipation builds as we await its rollout!
Chasing a seat in Qsuite
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