Earlier this week, Qatar Airways showed off their first A350 XWB aircraft at a huge ceremony in Doha. The event drew in over 500 VIP guests and media, including "the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs, His Excellency Mr. Ahmad bin Abdullah Al Mahmoud; the Minister of Finance, His Excellency Mr. Ali Shareef Al Emadi; the Minister of Transport, His Excellency Mr. Jassim Saif Ahmed Al Sulaiti; and His Excellency the Minister of Energy and Industry, Dr. Mohammed bin Saleh Al-Sada." 

“The delivery of this new aircraft category into the Qatar Airways’ fleet, as global launch customer, is a moment of absolute national pride for Qatar Airways and the State of Qatar," says Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, His Excellency Mr. Akbar Al Baker. The evening featured music from Portuguese singer Suzy Guerra, a dinner, and a laser light show that told of the aircraft production journey. Afterwards, guests were able to step on board and see the A350 XWB for themselves.

Since Qatar is the global launch customer for the plane, they will be the only ones flying it. The first commercial flight is taking the airline's Frankfurt route on January 15.