Qatar Airways : QR : QTR

Qatar Airways effectue une première mondiale en faisant le premier vol avec un carburant contenant 50 % de gaz liquéfié.

Qatar Airways has achieved a world first today by operating an Airbus A340-600 on a revenue flight powered by gas-to-liquid (GTL) kerosene.
The A340-600 took off today on the synthetic fuel demonstration flight from London Gatwick, operating the airline's regular QR076 service to Doha with a full load of passengers.
The A340 substituted for the regular A330 on the 6h flight, with all four of its Rolls-Royce Trent 500 engines to be powered by a 50/50 blend of GTL and Jet A1 kerosene. On board the milestone flight was Qatar Airways chief executive, Akbar Al Baker and a small group of media that included Flightglobal. The remainder of the aircraft was occupied by fare-paying passengers who had been advised in advance about the nature of the flight.
The demonstration follows a two-year intensive study into synthetic fuel technology, which was announced at the Dubai air show in November 2007 by a team comprising Qatar Airways, Qatar Petroleum, Shell, Airbus, R-R, Qatar Science & Technology Park and Woqod (Qatar Fuel Company).
The Gatwick-Doha flight is the second demonstration of the synthetic fuel. Last year Airbus operated an A380 on a 3h flight between Bristol and Toulouse with one of its four Trent engines fuelled by a 40% blend of GTL kerosene provided by Shell.
Training and research has been undertaken within the Qatar Science and Technology Park. The country is set to be the market leader in the production of GTL, with Qatar Petroleum and Shell having created a multi-billion dollar integrated GTL "Pearl" plant. When this comes fully on line by 2011 GTL will be available in large volumes.
Approval for the 50% blend was received in September, and the ultimate goal is to achieve approval for 100% blend of GTL with other synthetic fuels.
GTL provides environmental benefits as it is clean burning - it produces fewer particulates, thereby reducing sulphur and nitrate emissions - and provides up to 5% higher energy density per weight. Qatar Airways ultimately aims to use the fuel for all its regular operations.

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Merci, Jeannot !

Regardeez l'image : A340-600HGW, à moteurrs RR Trent-556 ou -560 !

Une "première pour le trio Aitbus, Qatar & RR !

Ce serait une bonne surprise si Qatar choisissait le RR Trent-900 pour ses A380 !

Bravo !!!! Qatar pourrait voler au carburant à base de gaz liquéfié en 2012.

Qatar Airways aims to fuel all flights from its Doha hub with a 50% blend of gas-to-liquid (GTL) kerosene from 2012, following its successful first GTL revenue flight between London and Qatar today.
The 6h flight from Gatwick operated by an Airbus A340-600 was the first commercial service powered by GTL fuel and the first time that GTL has been used to power all engines. Airbus operated an A380 GTL demonstration flight in February last year between Bristol and Toulouse, but only one of the four Rolls-Royce Trent engines was GTL-fuelled.
Speaking to Flightglobal on board the historic flight, Qatar Airways chief executive Akbar Al Baker said that the demonstration signalled an important milestone in the airline's environmental drive. "This flight is the first step in making alternative fuel available to airlines."
The fuel for the test flight was supplied by Shell's GTL plant in Bintulu, Malaysia. Shell and partner Qatar Petroleum are building a huge GTL plant which is due to begin production at the end of next year and will ramp up GTL kerosene output to one million tonnes a year in 2012.
"When it is available at Doha airport, all Qatar Airways flight will operate with a mix of GTL," says Al Baker.
Shell Aviation general manager operations/technical & supply Gary Woodward says that the flight marks an important milestone in the development of aviation fuel: "The availability of a new fuel in our industry is very rare."
"In the long term demand for fuel is going to outstrip supply so for airlines the availability of GTL adds to the fuel pool as supply get gets tight," he adds. "We need new fuels to bring a diversity of supply options."
On board the commercial demonstration flight were a total of 240 passengers including VIP guests, a small group of media which included Flightglobal and fare-paying passengers. The latter were advised in advance about the nature of the flight.
Qatar Airways announced the GTL project at the Dubai air show in November 2007. It is partnered with Shell, Qatar Petroleum, Airbus, R-R, Qatar Science & Technology Park and Qatari fuel supplier Woqod.

Après l'expérience réussie, toute la flotte volerait avec ce mélange 50-50 gaz-Jet1.

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Merci Jeannot

Le problème, actuellement, c'est que le Gas To Liquid est bien plus cher que le Jet Kero.

Ses qualités majeures dans le secteur automobile :

1/ Il ne nécessite pas de transformation lourde du moteur.

2/ Il est distribuable par les mêmes circuits que ceux utilisés par les carburants actuels, sans modification complète des infrastructures existantes.

Concernant les aéronefs, il serait intéressant de voir si 1/ et 2/ sont valables aussi.

Mais la composition du GTL permet déjà une légère augmentation de l'autonomie.

Curieux de connaitre les résultats qui seront annoncés par Qatar ou RR ( ou Shell si c'est bien le fournisseur ).

Le 50/50 sort bien de la JV Shell - Qatar Petroleum, raffinerie baptisée Pearl GTL au Qatar.

Pas de modifications des Trent de l'A340-600, il me semble.

Airbus avait réalisé une étude prédictive, avant la chute des cours pétroliers, annonçant 30% du parc mondial avions utilisant le GTL après 2020. Un peu optimiste ?

La production du GTL utilise le procédé Fisher-Tropsch, d'une façon plus complexe que pour le gasole automobile.

Merci pour ces posts.

Effectivement, personne ne parle du besoin de modifierles moteurs RR Trent 556 / 560 !

Pas de modification nécessaire, paraît-il !

Une interview d'Al Baker, CEO de Qatar.
Plus ( not anymore ) de première classe mais une business top.

Plan d'acquisition de flotte détaillé, contractuellement.

Sur Gulftimes :

Qatar Airways has sought a revised schedule for the delivery of Airbus A380 super jumbos in view of the airline’s ‘performance requirements’, CEO Akbar al-Baker has said.

“We don’t know when we will start receiving the A380s; we are waiting for Airbus to come back to us with the revised date,” al-Baker told Gulf Times.

He, however, said Qatar Airways would take delivery of the ‘contractually committed aircraft’. “We have placed orders for five Airbus A380s. These are firm orders and we have not gone for any other option,” al-Baker said.

The four-engined Airbus A380 is the world’s largest passenger jet. Qatar Airways is a launch customer of the twin-deck super jumbos, capable of carrying 555 passengers in a luxurious configuration.

As per the earlier schedule, the national carrier would have taken delivery of the A380s from 2012. The New Doha International Airport (NDIA) is being built with facilities that can accommodate the ‘super jumbos’.

Qatar Airways plans to initially operate the A380 on its flagship European route between Doha and London Heathrow followed by other prime, high-density routes.

Al-Baker said the delivery of Qatar Airways’ 32 Boeing B777s would be completed by 2011. The national carrier took delivery of its first Boeing aircraft-a Boeing 777-300 Extended Range aircraft-in November 2007.

From only four aircraft in 1997, Qatar Airways has grown to a fleet size of more than 70 aircraft now. By 2013, the fleet size will reach 110 aircraft.

Currently, Qatar Airways has more than 220 aircraft on order worth more than $40bn for delivery over the next few years.

On the opening of the NDIA, al-Baker said the ‘contractual agreement’ was that the new airport should be handed over by 2011. Initially, the new airport will have a capacity of 24mn passengers a year. Once fully developed beyond 2015, the airport is expected to handle up to 50mn passengers a year.

On the airline’s three new destinations he said, “This will happen in the current financial year.” Al-Baker did not disclose details on the two ‘unnamed destinations’ in Europe. “I cannot tell you, I cannot name them,” he said.

Qatar Airways is set to fly to Melbourne in Australia on December 6. Sydney will be connected in early 2010. Currently, the national carrier flies to 84 destinations worldwide.

'No first-class seats on inter-continental flights'

Qatar Airways chief executive Akbar al-Baker says the airlines is ‘contractually committed’ to orders for five Airbus A380s.

‘No first-class seats on inter-continental flights’

Qatar Airways CEO Akbar al-Baker has said the airline will not have first-class seats on its inter-continental flights anymore. “But our product in business class is better than first class in most of the airlines,” he told Gulf Times. Qatar
Airways has taken a decision not to unduly focus on first-class seats as premium travel by the global economic downturn, al-Baker said. “The demand for first-class seats has certainly come down because of the recession. However, there are many takers for our business class seats,” he said recently.
Early this year, the airline decided to overhaul its A340s by removing the first-class lounge. The airline cited ‘low usage’ for removing the first-class lounge, which would provide room for many seats in the economy class.

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Bonjour, chers tous ! Contexte : Dubai, ...... 2009 et la suite dans la région.

Lien :
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DATE:16/11/09. SOURCE:Flight Daily News
Dubai 09: R-R signs to deal to assist Qatar with science research
By Max Kingsley-Jones

Rolls-Royce has linked with Qatar's technology research sector, signing a tenancy agreement with the country's science centre QSTP. The deal will support Qatar's drive to create a hub for technology development, education and research in the region.

R-R has strong ties with the nation's flag carrier Qatar Airways, which operates four Trent 500-powered Airbus A340-600s and holds orders for 80 Trent XWB-powered A350s.

The engine maker is a partner in the Qatar gas-to-liquid (GTL) kerosene research programme, which recently saw a Qatar Airways A340-600 operating the world's first GTL-powered commercial flight.

R-R says that its wholly owned subsidiary OSyS will work closely with local industry and academics and take the lead in establishing a research, training and development programme in the QSTP.
"Our activity will enable development of core skills and partnerships which are critical to developing a competitive and diversified economy," says Miles Cowdry, R-R's director - global corporate development.

Il ne serait pas étonnant que Qatar annonce son choix de RR Trent 900 comme motorisation de ses A380.

Qatar veut être parmi les premiers dans l'utilisation ds "carburants modernes"

Lien :
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Qatar Airways.(AFRICA/MIDDLE EAST Report)
Air Transport World, Arrival Time: 2009-11-19

Qatar Airways A340-600 powered by Trent 556 engines flew from London Gatwick to Doha last month using a 50-50 blend of synthetic GTL kerosene and conventional oil-based kerosene, which the carrier said was the world's first commercial passenger flight powered by fuel made from natural gas. The flight was the "latest step" for the consortium comprising QR, Rolls-Royce, Airbus, Qatar Petroleum, Qatar Science & Technology Park, Shell and Qatar Fuel.

On y arrive !

Extrait d'un interviwe donné par recemment Mr Al Baker à la BBC et diffusé le 26 novembre.

Just a few soundbites from the interview:

- We are an airline which is in the black, is growing, and we are there to face the challenge.

- IATA is right; there are airlines which are inefficient, with no clear strategy to grow, but we are focussed at Qatar Airways

- We have downward pressure on premium traffic and yields

- We are making good profits from our fuel hedging policy

- We are different from some airlines because we do not deploy capacity where it is not required. Our fleet is flexible and is deployed according to demand

Interviewer said to him: "IATA said of the Middle-East, growth is there, growth is good, but it is not sustainable as growth in capacity is outstripping demand."

Response: I take what he says with a pinch of salt; he is a politician.

- Question: Emirates profits are down 72%. What are yours?
Answer: We are a private government public partnership. We do not publish profits.

- Question: Isn't your growth fuelled by major state aid?
Answer: This is talk by people who don't know their business.

-Question: Isn't your fuel subsidised?
Answer: Our highest fuel cost is actually in our own country. I can buy Qatari fuel cheaper in the Philippines.

-Question: You ordered 30 B787s, which were due in 2010. Are you thinking of cancelling?
Answer: No. We have now settled with Boeing. They are going to deliver in 2011. If there is any further slippage, yes, then we will have to reconsider. We gave Boeing an ultimatum. We had a termination notice prepared, and if it slips any further, we WILL cancel the order.

-Question: You sound like someone who will never buy Boeing again?
Answer: If this is the way they treat customers, as they tried to treat us, without success, yes, then they will not only lose me, but others too, and if there is another slip in Boeing, I think they will have more cancellations, not only from Qatar Airways, but other airlines too.

We are buying the 787 because it has a 20% less fuel burn.
We are buying other aircraft, the A350 because it is even more sophisticated.

-Question: What do you expect your passenger number to be in 2050?
Answer: 50 million passengers.

Belle histoire d'amour avec Boeing

Le lien vers la video est devenu disponible.

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Le très médiatique CEO de Qatar Airways croit, pense espère que Airbus fera ce mois-ci une annonce importante sur une remotorisation des A32X par des PW1000s au travers de IAE.

Qatar Airways CEO Akbar Al-Baker expects Airbus to shortly "make an important announcement" on the re-engining of the A320, and believes that supplier International Aero Engines will offer the PW1000 geared turbofan produced by partner Pratt & Whitney.
"I believe that Airbus is going to make an important announcement this month," says Al-Baker. "And I think they will come up with a programme similar to the [Bombardier] C-Series and install the GTF engine."
Airbus has said that it plans to make a decision on the re-engining by the Farnborough Airshow in July. If it goes ahead, it will offer the upgrade as an option across the A319, A320 and A321 models with new engine offerings from the two incumbent suppliers CFM International and IAE.
Qatar will also decide on whether it will order the C-Series, which already comes with the PW1000, by Farnborough, says Al-Baker. The carrier re-opened talks with Bombardier late last year on the aircraft, after earlier negotiations fell through, and is reportedly interested in the 130-seat variant.
"There are a few issues to overcome and then we will make up our mind before Farnborough. These are commercial issues, discussions on certain commercial terms. If we are going that way, yes, it will be by that time," says Al-Baker. "The onus is on Bombardier."

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Après Copenhague, Ankara, Tokyo-Narita et Barcelonne Qatar Airwaus va ouvrir Salo Paulo et Buenos Aires

Qatar Airways will launch its first flights to South America when it begins flying to Sao Paulo Guarulhos and Buenos Aires from Doha later this year. Frequency and dates for the 777 services were not announced. QR already has announced plans to start serving Copenhagen (March 30), Ankara (April 5), Tokyo Narita (April 26) and Barcelona (June 7). Its summer schedule from March 28 will feature capacity increases to 15 additional destinations, including third daily flights to both Colombo and Kathmandu.

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Jeannot a écrit:Le très médiatique CEO de Qatar Airways croit, pense espère que Airbus fera ce mois-ci une annonce importante sur une remotorisation des A32X par des PW1000s au travers de IAE.

Qatar Airways CEO Akbar Al-Baker expects Airbus to shortly "make an important announcement" on the re-engining of the A320, and believes that supplier International Aero Engines will offer the PW1000 geared turbofan produced by partner Pratt & Whitney.
"I believe that Airbus is going to make an important announcement this month," says Al-Baker. "And I think they will come up with a programme similar to the [Bombardier] C-Series and install the GTF engine."
Airbus has said that it plans to make a decision on the re-engining by the Farnborough Airshow in July. If it goes ahead, it will offer the upgrade as an option across the A319, A320 and A321 models with new engine offerings from the two incumbent suppliers CFM International and IAE.
Qatar will also decide on whether it will order the C-Series, which already comes with the PW1000, by Farnborough, says Al-Baker. The carrier re-opened talks with Bombardier late last year on the aircraft, after earlier negotiations fell through, and is reportedly interested in the 130-seat variant.
"There are a few issues to overcome and then we will make up our mind before Farnborough. These are commercial issues, discussions on certain commercial terms. If we are going that way, yes, it will be by that time," says Al-Baker. "The onus is on Bombardier."

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Patience ! L'annonce viendra ! N'y mettons pas une date , un délai, une "deadline date" !

Ce qui compte, pour Airbus, c'est que, pendant "Farnborogh 2010", l'avionneur soit en mesure de faire l'annonce :
-- des airframes "revampés" des membres concernés de la famille A320 ;
-- accompagnée de l'annonce des l'options retenues pour "engine upgrade", au travers du Consortium IAE (libellé "IAE", ... et cela est non négociable pour Airbus), et du Consortium CFMI ;

-- accompagnée, aussi, de l'annonce des commandes fermes de lancement (et, bien sûr, des Cies. Clientes de lancement), pour chaque variante de motorisation,

-- et, en appui, l'annonce des commandes fermes des moteurs (des deux fournisseurs de moteurs), ainsi que l'identié des compagnies de lancement des motorisations en lice!