I was incredibly honored to receive an invitation from Qatar Airways to be one of 150 media representatives from around the world for the launch of their latest aircraft, the Airbus A350 XWB. The excitement of witnessing such a historic event was truly extraordinary! What made it even more thrilling was that the event took place in Qatar—my 65th country visited.
As an important guest, I had the privilege of flying Qatar Airways’ business class on the Jakarta-Doha route. The comfort of business class is hard to beat, with seats that convert into flat beds and even function as massage chairs—imagine sleeping while getting a back massage! Each passenger was given a set of super-soft pajamas, so we all ended up sleeping in matching outfits.
Upon arriving, I was greeted by a Qatar Airways staff member holding a sign with my name. I was amazed by Doha’s newly completed airport. We stayed at the luxurious Oryx Rotana, a five-star hotel owned by the Qatar Airways group.
The next morning, we had the option of joining a City Tour or a Desert Safari Tour. Naturally, I chose the latter. Along with the other participants, we embarked on a thrilling ride in 12 SUVs across the desert. The cars raced up and down steep sand dunes, and we even stopped at the Saudi Arabian border for coffee by the sea.
Lunch was at the Spice Market restaurant in the W Hotel, where I met fellow invitees from various countries. I was surprised to find that the group included traditional journalists, online news portal reporters, bloggers, as well as social media influencers and Instagram celebrities. The evolution of social media is truly impressive!
We then visited the Legacy Pavilion to see a presentation on Qatar’s preparations to host the FIFA World Cup 2022. The presentation was held in a room with ¾ of the walls covered by screens projected from 34 projectors. It was clear why Qatar won the bidding—the presentation was breathtaking! Despite being a country the size of Sumba Island, Qatar is building 12 air-conditioned football stadiums with an average capacity of 45,000 people. They are also developing a state-of-the-art public transportation network, including MRT, buses, and boats.
In the evening, we had the opportunity to shop for souvenirs at Souq Waqif, followed by a dinner cruise on a Dhow boat, offering stunning views of Doha’s skyline and its lights.
The second day was the highlight of the trip! We attended a press conference at Doha Airport led by His Excellency Akbar Al Baker (Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive), Didier Evrard (Airbus Executive Vice President Head of Programmes), and Eric Schulz (Rolls-Royce President of Civil Large Engines). Qatar Airways was the first airline in the world to use the Airbus A350 XWB. The aircraft boasts the world’s most efficient and quietest engines. The first commercial flight was on January 15, 2015, from Doha to Frankfurt. Qatar Airways has ordered 80 A350s, and hopefully, some will eventually fly to Indonesia.
After the conference, we were divided into groups to board the A350 Qatar Airways aircraft. I was in Group A, the first group to enter the plane! Walking down the red carpet to the aircraft was exhilarating. The cabin was spacious, with an economy seat configuration of 3-3-3, 18-inch seat width, and a 32-inch pitch. The TV screen was 10.6 inches! The business class seats, arranged in a 1-2-1 configuration, convert into horizontal beds with 17-inch screens. Impressive!
Lunch was served in the Business Class Airport Lounge. Mr. Al Baker, with his charismatic presence, happened to walk by, and I seized the chance for a photo with him. My media colleagues were amazed, saying, “Wow, you’re so bold!”
The evening featured the grand reveal ceremony on Doha’s runway. The event was attended by hundreds, with elaborate table settings and luxurious food served. A massive stage and backdrop were set up, and after speeches and entertainment, the backdrop opened to reveal the new aircraft!
The following morning, all participants flew home. I extended my stay in Qatar for a few extra days, so I’ll save my personal travel experiences in Qatar for another time!
Note:
Photos and videos are courtesy of Qatar Airways, except for personal photos because my camera suddenly died in Doha! After being taken to a service center in Jakarta, all the photos were unrecoverable. What a shame, as I had pictures in the cockpit and in business class!