Qatar Airways' set to unveil new look first class cabin

Qatar Airways is set to unveil its first class cabin with new aircraft by embracing latest technology and digitalisation, according to its top official, setting a new benchmark for the global airline industry.

"I will only give you an idea about a project that we have been working on lately for the last 4-5 months on our first class cabin,” Qatar Airways Group chief executive officer Badr Mohammed al-Meer told the penultimate day of the Web Summit Qatar 2025. “And you will see what we're talking about when it comes to technology and digitalisation of our new cabin."

Highlighting the many areas that the national carrier is trying to improve when it comes to technology and digitalisation of the passenger journey, he said that it will be “something different and it will change, it will create a new benchmark for the industry”.

Asked when the customers can expect this new development, al-Meer said that "it will be with the new aircraft, may be end of 2026 or beginning of 2027".

The national airline has developed a roadmap for several major new developments to help raise the bar in the global aviation landscape.

Asserting that it is not talking about “two or three or five areas” of working on the passenger experience, al-Meer said that "we are talking about multiple projects on multiple areas, on multiple platforms”.

Qatar Airways is implementing multiple projects with regards to artificial intelligence (AI), when it comes to catering, duty-free and booking online.

"We are trying to use AI, to utilise AI, to give a better experience for our passengers," al-Meer said, adding that with AI, it can gauge and study sector-by-sector and season-by-season regarding the meal on board.

Citing the London Heathrow flight, the official said that during the summer, the majority of the passengers are from the Gulf Co-operation Council (GCC) countries, and they order a specific type of meal.

"AI will help us to provide the expected service that our passengers require,” al-Meer said. “Whether it is summer vacation, New Year or Chinese New Year, AI will make sure that we are not running out of the preferred meal on board."

This, he said, would not only give a better customer experience but also reduce the number of wasted meals on board, thus saving cost for the airline.

Al-Meer added that it is also part of the airline’s sustainability focus.

Shedding light on one of his top priorities, “Qatar Airways 2.0”, which is about innovation, connectivity and people, he said: "We need to deliver multiple projects to enhance the experience of our passengers on multiple areas and do it in a very short time."