The first two Gulfstream G700 private jets have been delivered to Qatar Executive in Doha.
The $81 million aircraft got FAA certification in March, meaning it can finally fly passengers.
Qatar’s glitzy new jet is bigger than its predecessor and caters to the company’s most elite customers.
Qatar Airways is considered one of the most luxurious airlines in the world, with award-winning business-class suites and even onboard bars.
But, unbeknownst to many travelers, the Doha-based carrier also runs a private arm known as Qatar Executive. The high-end subsidiary targets the airline’s most elite travelers — specifically those willing to pay up to six figures for a flight.
The wholly-owned business was launched in 2009 and has since amassed a fleet of multimillion-dollar corporate jets, including the Gulfstream G650ER, the Bombardier 5000, the Airbus ACJ319, and, most recently, the Gulfstream G700.
Qatar is the international launch customer for the $75 million G700, having unveiled the first of 10 on order at the Paris Airshow in June. However, the US-made aircraft was still awaiting certification from the Federal Aviation Administration and could not yet carry high-paying passengers.
The airline only had to wait about nine months before Gulfstream finally announced the G700’s FAA approval in March, meaning it could finally receive its first official G700 in Doha.
Qatar Executive officially received its first two G700 private jets in Doha on Wednesday.
The official delivery came nine months after Qatar unveiled the interior of what the G700 would like at the airshow in June.
“We are proud to enhance our existing fleet of 15 Gulfstream G650ER aircraft to include the pinnacle of business aviation excellence and look forward to seeing our guests on board soon to experience this technologically advanced aircraft,” Qatar Airways Group chief executive Engr. Badr Mohammed Al-Meer said in a press release.
Powered by two Rolls-Royce Pearl 700 engines, the company’s new G700 sports the familiar Qatar Executive livery and comes complete with a fully customizable interior.
Similar to the G650ER, the G700’s living spaces include a club area, an office or meeting space, a dining room, a theater, and a bedroom.
However, the G700 outperforms its predecessor in range, speed, and cabin altitude, as well as a shorter landing distance that, according to Gulfstream, gives customers “increased flexibility and airport availability.”
The flexibility is particularly advantageous considering the G700 can fly up to 8,630 miles nonstop — making it one of the longest-ranged private jets in the industry.
Qatar says its new business jet can operate “ultra-long-range flights between almost all commercial city pairs,” like Doha to New York in 13 and a half hours and Doha to Seoul in less than eight hours.
Stepping onto the G700, I could immediately see the Qatar brand reflected in the design.
I thought the colors and tones were elegant and very visually pleasing.
The first passenger section onboard was the theater, which was complete with a couch and flat-screen television.
I also liked the decorative touches, like the flowers and the blue and gold carpet.
A cool feature was the TV streaming live footage from the airshow via a camera on the tail of the plane.
The theater also has a curtain that can separate it from the rest of the jet, offering added privacy.
Behind the entertainment area was the club room with four large armchairs, each with an adjustable headrest and good recline.
The legrest could also pop up for added comfort.
A table could be deployed between each set of two seats as well, which was easily big enough to fit a laptop, food, or a board game.
The tray table was easy enough to deploy and store.
Other perks like charging ports and cupholders were located next to each seat.
There were also televisions around the cabin that gave flight information to the guests.
Walking further down the jet, guests will find the dining room, where catered food can be served by the onboard cabin crew.
Also notice the large “panoramic” windows, which Gulfstream says are the largest in business aviation.
On one side of the space is a table for four…
These seats can also be converted into a bed.
…while the other side is a table for two, so up to six people can sit in the dining area at once.
Unlike the club space, a table was already situated between the pair of dining room loungers.
The aft living space is the bedroom, complete with a plush double bed and another set of loungers with a stored table.
Pajamas are also provided for customers.
A sliding door closes off the room for maximum privacy.
You can create five distinct living areas and three distinct rooms thanks to the sliding door and the curtain towards the front.
Attached to the bedroom is a lavatory with a sink, storage, towels, a mirror, and a toilet.
The leather-covered toilet also doubles as a seat.
In addition to the living spaces, there are also a few non-passenger spots onboard, like the aft cargo hold.
The room is accessible from the bathroom and can hold suitcases and oversized items.
Meanwhile, the front of the plane hosts the crew rest area. The space is optional, and operators who opt out can offer up to five living spaces onboard.
Because the Qatar G700 has a crew rest area, it only has four living spaces — the club/meeting room, the dining room, the theater, and the bedroom. The fifth option is another meeting or lounge space.
Also not part of the passenger area is the “extra-large” galley, which is where flight attendants prepare meals, snacks, and drinks.
The cupboards and drawers weren’t huge, but they could hold sodas, chips, candy, protein bars, and other small snacks.
The space comes complete with plenty of storage, as well as glasses, an oven, and a refrigerator.
There was easily enough space to cater to the small number of people who’d fly the G700 at any one time.
Considering all of the luxuries onboard, Qatar is targeting its most elite customers who have the means to fly private over opting for the Q-Suite.
People who can afford to fly private do so because of the convenience. Typically, these charters do not require a security check, and clients can fly between almost any city pair on their own schedule — not one predetermined by the airline.
But, only a niche number of people will be able to afford the luxury as a one-way flight from New York to London on the company’s smaller Gulfstream 500 can cost up to $160,000, according to a 2018 Business Insider report.
The G700 can fly much further than the G500, which is no longer in the carrier’s fleet, according to its website.
Despite the steep price, the market is still there. Qatar’s former CEO Akbar Al Baker expressed confidence in the jet and the future of business travel, describing the G700’s advanced performance as a “game changer.”
“The G700 represents the pinnacle of business jet travel and will provide Qatar Executive customers with an unsurpassed experience,” he said.
Al Baker stepped down as CEO in October after 27 years at the company and was replaced by Badr Mohammed Al-Meer, the former COO of Qatar’s Hamad International Airport base, in November.
Read the original article on Business Insider
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