Qatar Airways Update
Qatar Airways have just introuduced another Airbus A300-622R to the fleet. The aircraft is registered A7-AFB, and follows the registration sequence of the A300 fleet already on lease.
The fleet therefore currently comprises:-
A300-622R
A7-ABN (3 class config.)
A7-ABO (ditto)
A7-ABV (ditto)
A7-ABW (ditto)
A7-ABX (2 class config.)
A7-ABY (2 class config.)
A7-AFA (2 class config. painted all white - ex CityBird / ex Qatar)
A7-AFB (2/3 class config. ?)
A320-200
A7-ABR
A7-ABS
A7-ABT
A7-ABU
A7-ADA
A7-ADB
A7-ADC
A319CBJ
A7-HHJ
A330-200
A7-ACA
A7-ABB
A7-ACC (Due Jan 2003 - registration assigned)
A7-ACD (Due Feb 2003 - registration assigned)
There is also consideration being made to lease (on an interim basis) additional A330 capacity. This was initially rumored to be from Aer Lingus, Dublin. However, latest suggestion is that the capacity will come from SriLankan!!!! (EK - in a round about way - leasing to QR!!!!! Who would have thought it!) I believe that this may be a wet lease, since QR currently have some ongoing issues in training and placing sufficiently trained Cabin Crew on line. There are currently 2 batches of new CSD's in training at the present. This comprises an in-house promotion batch and an additional batch of direct entrants from Ansett / Australia.
The next batch of CSD's will be on line on Sunday, 29th September.
Initially, most will be deployed on the A300 fleet, progressing to both types (A300 / A330) in November 2002.