Qatar Airways A321neos/ex-A320neos

All East African routes we now fly with wide-bodies we would be able to fly with the A321LR. It will be used on existing routes and also on twin-engine intercontinental routes where we see only demand for 180 seats, while our smallest wide-body, the 787-8, has 232 seats. Instead of flying 50-60 seats empty we will rather fly an LR with lower seat mile cost.”

From Doha, the A321LR is able to reach places in Africa like Kinshasa in the Congo or Libreville in Gabon in Western Africa, both mentioned by Al Baker as possible new destinations, or cities in Thailand that currently see wide-body services year-round.

“All that an Airbus A300-600 could do that we had in our early days, the A321LR will do. This will give us also a lot of flexibility to switch aircraft according to seasonal demand,” says Al Baker.

And Al Baker revealed to Airlineratings.com that the airline has a “new Business Class product on the A321LR, something really outstanding. It will be revealed in March 2020 at Berlin’s ITB travel show.” So far Qatar does not offer lie-flat seats in the Business Class cabins of its narrow-body aircraft.