Qatar Airways named Service Centre for Airbus Corporate Jets

Qatar Airways has been appointed by Airbus as one of a select group of Service Centres to support the aircraft manufacturer’s Corporate Jetliners.

The centres will complement Airbus Customer Services’ existing worldwide network of spares, maintenance, training facilities and field-service teams for the jets.

Qatar Airways currently operates two ACJs, with an additional unit scheduled for delivery in December 2004. One ACJ is configured in 36 Business Class seats for long range operations.

The airline was also the launch customer of the A319LR, which features a two-class cabin for up to 110 passengers and is used on long, thin, point-to point scheduled services.

The ACJ, a longer-range version of the A319, can fly as far as 6,000 nautical miles with 12 passengers on board.

Under the new arrangement, Airbus’s Corporate Jetliner customers will be offered access to the global centres, which are run by specialists in executive and private aviation who have deep knowledge and experience of the market.

The new network initially comprises Qatar Airways based in Doha, Associated Air Centre of Dallas, Texas, USA, Jet Aviation of Zurich, Switzerland, and TAM Jatos Ejecutivos, from Sao Paulo, Brazil.

Qatar Airways Chief Executive Officer, Akbar Al Baker said that he was delighted at the appointment, which recognises the airline’s high standards and focus on customer service.

“We have a strong working relationship with Airbus and are pleased to extend our ties to cover the new network of Service Centres,” he said.

The new Service Centres will be able to support Airbus corporate aircraft customers with various services such as ground handling, flight-operations and dispatch, line and heavy maintenance, interior definition and aircraft management.

Airbus’ Service Centre network provides an opportunity for potential and existing customers to plan and estimate the cost of their operations and maintenance with greater confidence.

The new Service Centres will have full access to all Airbus services, including the provision of technical advice, aircraft on ground (AOG) assistance through the Airbus technical assistance centre (Airtac), and the company’s worldwide assistance network of field-service teams and spares and training centres.

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