Inside Qatar Airways’ Private Jet Fleet

Qatar Airways added three new Gulfstream G650ERs this week, growing its private jet offerings. Known as Qatar Executive, the branch operates a fleet of jets to cater to the needs of corporates and luxury travelers. Let’s take a look inside the carrier’s fleet.

Qatar now operates 11 G650ERs, making it the largest operator by a wide margin. Photo: Qatar Airways

Three more

In a statement yesterday, Qatar Airways announced that it has taken delivery of three new G650ERs, growing its fleet of the type to 11 aircraft. The aircraft is capable of flying 7,500nm (13,980km) nonstop, allowing it to carry 13 passengers on 15+ hour journeys across the globe.

The deliveries make Qatar Executive the largest G650ER by an even wider margin, cementing it as a major provider of private jets. However, the carrier isn’t done with deliveries yet, with another of the type set to join in a few weeks. The ramp-up comes as the holiday season and New Year draws near, both of which are bustling times for the airline.

The G650 is the backbone of QE’s fleet, making up 11 of the 17-strong offerings. Photo: Qatar Airways

In a statement about the latest acquisition, CEO Akbar Al Baker said,

“Despite the ongoing challenges of the pandemic, we continue to invest in our fleet, operating the youngest, most fuel-efficient and technologically-advanced aircraft in the skies…This strategic investment in sustainable twin-engine jets has enabled us to continue flying during these challenging times. As global travel recovers, our customers can rely on us to fly greener and smarter.”

More to come

As more affluent passengers and companies turn to private travel due to the pandemic, Qatar Executive is growing its fleet further. Currently, the airline operates 17 planes, consisting of:

• 11 Gulfstream G650ERs
• Three Bombardier Global 5000s
• One Global XRS
• One A319ACJ
• One A319 Air Ambulance

QE aircraft carry a more subtle livery, with a mostly white paint job except for the tail and small fuselage section. Photo: Qatar Airways

However, don’t think the airline is done just yet. In addition to its current G650ER and G500 orders, the carrier has a new type in its plans. In August 2021, Qatar Executive showed off its latest G700s, which it has orders for 10 of. These larger aircraft can fly faster and are more efficient, capable of running on 100% SAF.

This will be important in the future as more companies look to be carbon emission neutral. Given the sizeable impact private flying has, any attempts to mitigate this will be greatly appreciated.

Different world

While COVID-19 may have hurt commercial travel greatly, private flying has seen less of an impact. As travel picked up in 2021, companies could not meet the demand for private aircraft from wealthy fliers across the world. According to Forbes, private aviation will come back 5-10% bigger after the pandemic, a far cry from the commercial side.

Given this demand, manufacturers are ramping up the production of aircraft like the G650ER in the coming years. However, with an order backlog, consumers are turning to the second-hand market for planes. While it is out of the reach for nearly all travelers, for the ultra-rich, private flying has never been more in demand.

What do you think about Qatar Executive’s fleet? Let us know in the comments!

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