Summary
- Qatar Airways offers a limited first class with only 16 aircraft featuring private suites.
- The outstanding QSuite business class equals or surpasses many first class experiences.
- The airline plans to introduce a new first class product to compete with leading carriers like Singapore Airlines.
Qatar Airways’ total fleet is made up of 266 aircraft based at Doha’s Hamad International Airport (DOH). However, of those 266 aircraft, only 16 feature a first class cabin – 10 Airbus A380s and six Boeing 777-300ERs. Why does an airline that prides itself on delivering industry-leading onboard experience have such a limited first class offering?
Photo: Qatar Airways
As market trends change, first class has fallen out of favor with many airlines across the world in recent years, with some choosing to remove the option altogether. However, in the case of Qatar Airways, the reason for its somewhat limited first class offering also lies partly in the carrier’s outstanding business-class product – the QSuite. The experience for those lucky enough to travel in the QSuite is on a par with other airlines’ first class products, which has led many to ask why have a first class cabin at all?
What is it like to travel in Qatar Airways’ first class? The airline’s first class cabin features private suites, offering passengers the utmost privacy. In their suites, they will find luxurious products to use throughout the flight, including Diptyque amenity kits and The White Company loungewear. The suites can also be transformed into comfortable workspaces if needed.
Photo: Qatar Airways
Meanwhile, those passengers not working can relax with more than 8,000 entertainment options and indulge in fine dining. The overall first class experience is further enhanced by perks both pre- and post-flight such as dedicated check-in and security facilities, priority boarding, and lounge access.

Read more:
Qatar Airways First Class: What To Expect On Board
Is the airline’s first class better than its famed Qsuite?
According to data from ch-aviation, which of Qatar Airways’ aircraft feature a first class cabin?
Airbus A380
All 10 of Qatar Airways’ Airbus A380s feature a first class cabin, each made up of eight first class suites in a 1-2-1 configuration. The suites have a pitch of 90 inches and can be converted into fully flat beds. Qatar Airways took delivery of its first Airbus A380 in September 2014, receiving the tenth aircraft in April 2018.
Registration |
Delivery date |
Status |
---|---|---|
A7-APA |
September 2014 |
Stored |
A7-APB |
November 2014 |
Stored |
A7-APC |
December 2014 |
Active |
A7-APD |
December 2014 |
Active |
A7-APE |
June 2015 |
Active |
A7-APF |
October 2015 |
Active |
A7-APG |
December 2016 |
Active |
A7-APH |
May 2017 |
Active |
A7-API |
December 2017 |
Active |
A7-APJ |
April 2018 |
Active |
Although Qatar Airways grounded its Airbus A380s during the pandemic, the carrier has since been deploying them on some of its flagship routes, including London Heathrow (LHR), Bangkok (BKK), and Sydney (SYD).
Boeing 777-300ER
Qatar Airways also offers a first class cabin on six of its 57 Boeing 777-300ERs. These six are all former Cathay Pacific aircraft, currently on lease from the Hong Kong-based carrier. They have a total of six suites spread out over two rows in a 1-1-1 configuration. At 81 inches, the seat pitch on the Boeing 777-300ER is slightly smaller than on the Airbus A380, and the finish is also slightly more dated, although this is perhaps to be expected, given the age of the aircraft. Data from Flightradar24 shows that the aircraft are regularly deployed on some of the airline’s shorter routes, including Istanbul (IST), Male (MLE), and Hong Kong (HKG).
Photo: MBekir | Shutterstock
A7-BOA was delivered new to Cathay Pacific in December 2009 under the registration B-KPM. It flew with the airline until November 2021, and one month later, it was re-registered as A7-BOA. A7-BOB was also operated by Cathay Pacific, registered as B-KPL, until December 2021, when it joined Qatar Airways’ fleet at A7-BOB. Up to December 2023, this aircraft had flown a total of 64,682 flight hours over 8,168 flights, giving it an average sector length of 7 hours and 55 minutes.
A7-BOD also joined Qatar Airways’ fleet in December 2021, after having been with Cathay Pacific since December 2009 (when it was registered as B-KPN). A7-BOC flew with Cathay Pacific from February 2010 to January 2022 as B-KPP and transferred over to Qatar Airways in February 2022. Since then, it has completed 8,080 flight hours over 2,077 flights, giving it an average flight length of 3 hours and 53 minutes. The two most recent former Cathay Pacific Boeing 777-300ERs to join Qatar Airways’ fleet are A7-BOH and A7-BOI, which both moved across to the Doha-based carrier in June 2023.
The future of Qatar Airways’ first class
With plans to retire the fleet of Airbus A380s over the next couple of years, and with the Boeing 777-300ERs only temporarily in the fleet, what does the future hold for Qatar Airways’ first class offering?
The carrier recently announced that it was developing a new first class product, that would be capable of competing with the likes of Singapore Airlines and Emirates, both of which continue to offer industry-leading first class experiences. In an interview with CNBC, the airline’s CEO, Badr Mohammed Al Meer, said,
“We wanted to combine the experience of flying commercial and flying on a private jet and develop something new. We are 70% to 80% ready. We are only finalizing colors and small touches, but hopefully, we will be able to announce it very soon.”

Read more:
The New Qatar Airways CEO Is Planning To Bring Back First Class Cabins
Qatar Airways is developing a new first class concept.
Have you flown in Qatar Airways’ first class cabin? Which aircraft and route were you traveling on? How did it compare to traveling in the QSuite? Share your experiences by commenting below.