Yann Arnould
- 28/06/2025
Yann Arnould
28/06/2025
At the Paris Air Show 2025, Flightreviews.net had the opportunity to explore Qatar Airways' cabin offerings in detail, with an exclusive visit to its Boeing 777-300ER equipped with the renowned Qsuite Business Class, as well as a first glimpse of the Qsuite Next Gen that will equip the airline's future Boeing 777-9 aircraft.
The aircraft presented this year, registered A7-BED and delivered in 2014, particularly drew attention. Recently repainted in a special all-blue "UEFA Champions League" livery, this aircraft gained recognition for transporting the Paris Saint-Germain football team from Munich to Paris following their historic victory against Inter Milan in the Champions League final last May. Beyond this sporting anecdote, this presentation offered a complete immersion into Qatar Airways' premium universe.
Introduced in 2017, the Qsuite marked a true breakthrough in the Business Class universe. Aboard this 777-300ER, 42 seats are arranged in an alternating configuration, some facing forward, others facing backward, thus optimizing space and modularity. Each fully closable suite features a door for complete privacy and transforms into a fully flat bed measuring two meters in length, with a generous width of over 53 centimeters.
The interior aesthetics harmoniously blend deep burgundy tones with rose gold finishes, creating an atmosphere that is both refined and welcoming.
Each suite features a 21.5-inch high-definition touchscreen, adjustable reading light, universal power outlets, USB-A ports, and HDMI connectivity. Passengers can synchronize their personal devices with the Oryx One entertainment system through an NFC chip integrated into the seat.
The Qsuite's uniqueness lies in its ability to adapt to different traveler profiles. The center seats, equipped with removable partitions and screens mounted on sliding panels, allow two passengers to create a private space or even a double bed—an industry first at its launch.
Even more remarkable, four central suites can be combined to form a "Quad Suite", creating a truly collaborative space ideal for families or traveling colleagues.
The Qsuite currently equips Qatar Airways' entire Airbus A350-1000 fleet, as well as several A350-900s, Boeing 777-200LRs, and 777-300ERs.
The visited Boeing 777-300ER offers 312 seats in Economy Class. The Recaro CL3710 seats, arranged in a traditional 3-4-3 configuration, maintain an appreciable level of comfort despite the high density. With a pitch of 81 centimeters, a 5-degree recline, and a seat width of over 43 centimeters, the experience remains satisfactory.
Each seat features a 10.6-inch touchscreen, USB ports, and a shared electrical outlet. The Oryx One system provides a smooth interface and a vast selection of multimedia content, with NFC synchronization capability always available.
Contrary to market trends where numerous airlines diversify their offerings with Premium Economy or First Class cabins, Qatar Airways maintains a traditional two-class approach on the majority of its long-haul aircraft. The Qsuite, increasingly premium and spacious, effectively positions itself as a hard product approaching First Class standards.
When questioned about the absence of a Premium Economy offering—a class that has become essential for many travelers seeking a compromise between comfort and price—the airline justified this position by claiming to treat all its Economy passengers as premium customers. While the Premium Economy topic does not appear to be a priority for Qatar Airways, this response nevertheless leaves open the question of potential future evolution, particularly given the growing interest in this intermediate class and Qatar Airways' usual ambitions in cabin innovation.
The Paris Air Show also provided an opportunity to discover, through a 1:1 scale mockup, the Qsuite Next Gen, an improved and modernized version of the Qsuite. This evolution preserves the DNA of the original version while integrating significant improvements in design, technology, and passenger experience.
The most striking innovation lies in the expanded space allocated to each passenger, with a longer bed, wider seat, and optimized overall clearance. The partition controls, now motorized and integrated into a touchscreen control panel, will allow travelers to easily modulate their suite's privacy.
Qatar Airways has reimagined the Quad Suite, which becomes a true meeting or shared dining space with enhanced connectivity.
A new concept called the "Companion Suite" debuts for couples traveling window-side, allowing them to remove the separating partition to travel face-to-face.
Another notable innovation is the integration of a 22-inch Panasonic 4K OLED screen, promising exceptional image quality. The new generation also offers wireless charging for smartphones as well as USB-C ports.
Personalization will be taken to the extreme, from seat control to adjustable ambient lighting according to one's mood. A "Make My Bed" function can be activated directly from the control screen, allowing crew members to transform the seat into a bed during the passenger's absence.
A secure personal compartment, lockable with a secret code, will add an appreciable security dimension.
This new version of the Qsuite should equip Qatar Airways' future Boeing 777-9 aircraft. When questioned about the possibility of retrofitting existing Airbus A350s or Boeing 777s, the airline indicated that this was not planned in the immediate future, making the Boeing 777X the launch aircraft for this new cabin.
However, with the aircraft having experienced numerous delays since its first flight in 2020, Boeing indicated at the Paris Air Show that service entry is now expected for 2026. Should this timeline be met, Qatar Airways would be able to deploy its Qsuite Next Gen according to the planned schedule. Otherwise, the airline would need to either accept additional delays or consider a change in launch aircraft for this new cabin.
Qatar Airways continues to demonstrate its commitment to premium cabin innovation with the Qsuite family, solidifying its position among the industry's leading Business Class products. The current Qsuite's modular design and space optimization remain compelling differentiators, while the upcoming Next Gen iteration promises enhanced passenger experience through advanced technology and increased personalization.
The airline's two-class configuration allows for maximum Business Class density but limits passenger choice for those seeking an intermediate comfort level, particularly as competitors expand their cabin segmentation. The Qsuite Next Gen's dependence on Boeing 777X timing introduces execution risk, though Qatar Airways' innovation track record suggests adaptability should delays persist.
Both current and future Qsuite iterations offer compelling value propositions, delivering features traditionally associated with First Class at Business Class price points, representing thoughtful evolution rather than revolutionary change in Qatar Airways' premium travel segment strategy.
Featured image by Yann Arnould / Flightreviews.net