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The Airbus A350-1000 landed in Brisbane for the first time on Thursday night as Qatar Airways prepares to launch operations in the city.
The airline also confirmed that from Monday, 25 May, Australian passengers will be asked to wear mandatory face masks, while cabin crew will wear full “PPE suits”, including safety goggles and gloves.
Brisbane Airport chief executive Gert-Jan de Graff said, “Until now, Brisbane was the only major capital city in Australia without a Qatar Airways service and Queensland the only major state.
“The service Qatar Airways offers will bring more choice for passengers and the air access and export opportunities to and from Brisbane and the state of Queensland are significant.”
Qatar was the global launch customer for the A350-1000 and was the second carrier to operate the model to Australia after deploying it on its daily Doha-Sydney-Canberra flight last November.
One of the latest additions to the Airbus family of twin-aisle, wide-body jetliners, the A350-1000 offers 327 seats across two cabins.
The airline said that its combination of being more fuel-efficient and having an advanced airframe built from composite materials made it more environmentally friendly.
On the inside, LED mood lighting “mimics a natural sunrise and sunset”, which, it claims, helps to reduce the effects of jet lag.
The A350-1000 is seven metres longer than the A350 XWB and offers 28 per cent more capacity in the Premium Class cabin.
Meanwhile, Qatar announced earlier this week that it will have some of the most stringent PPE requirements for passengers and crew in the world. Today, it seemingly confirmed this will also apply to Australian flights, too.
“Face coverings” will be mandatory, and customers are advised to bring their own for “fit and comfort purposes”.
With the resumption of flights to Brisbane, Qatar Airways will operate 21 passenger flights per week to Australia, with full details at the bottom of the article.
Qatar Airways chief executive Akbar Al Baker said, “Last month we received exceptional approval to operate short-term services to Brisbane. In co-operation with Australian authorities, we were able to temporarily increase our frequencies and successfully helped thousands of travellers get home.”
Peter
says:Are the borders opening?
chris robey
says:So SQ are not the only international carrier operating wide body a/c into CBR?
Reply to Chris Robey
says:SQ CBR flights are suspended. No International flights out of Canberra
Adrian P
says:So the cabin crew require full PPE to protect them from passengers.
Passenger protection is based on other passengers wearing a mask .
What happens at meal times?
Not sure where the the rational is for dealing with the issues.
Reply to Adrian P
says:Per UCD Centre for Precision Surgery, Mater Hospital Dublin (Ireland):
Surgical masks are unidirectional, they protect the environment from the user.
Even if I wear a mask, the transmission probability from a carrier is c 70% if they are not wearing a mask.
If the infected person wears a mask but I don’t, its 5%.
With us both masked, it’s 1.5%.
But on long hall flights most people who are not use to mask regualy won’t be able to use mask for 24Hours
Marum
says:Order soup, and suck it through the mask.
Meoww….Marum Katze.
Rory
says:Meanwhile, the other Q’s aircraft lie dormant due to there apparently being no useful work. I smell a (red) rat
James Smith
says:Has Qatar got an increased allocation of flights to Australia’s main airports above the current 21 per week or will they be reducing services to Perth long term to accommodate three weekly permanent services to Brisbane?
Reply to James Smith
says:Short term at least yep less perth flights for brisbane.
Alwaine
says:Who will be the passengers in these flights? The Government prohibits Australians leaving the country.
Reply to Alwaine
says:European National who want to return home. Diplomates and more.
Pete
says:Freight! Qatar is operating a very lucrative air freight service to and from Australia that also occasionally carries passengers.
The 35K is the obvious choice for both capacity and economy.