What is the roll-out schedule for the new economy class unveiled by Qatar Airways in Paris?
Frédéric Gossot - This new economy class will initially be installed on A321neoscheduled for delivery later this year. 2020. 50 devices are on order, ten of them in the long-range version. The seat will then be gradually installed on the rest of the fleet. The first destinations concerned have not yet been defined.
What do you think are the main advantages of this new class for travellers?
Frédéric Gossot - The most striking development is the completely innovative seat, which glides over itself to recline to 19 degrees and avoids getting in the way of the passenger behind, while offering maximum comfort. The addition of a second shelf, above the traditional dining shelf, also makes it easier to dine, work or watch a film. L'4K screen The 13.3-inch (33 cm) screen, one of the largest available in economy class worldwide, includes a catalogue of 4,000 programmes, films, entertainment and the in-flight magazine. Connectivity has also been improved, with a USB port for fast recharging, and wi-fi speeds ten times faster than today's standards. These improvements will add to our new catering offer, " Quisine" which is already available on board, with new crockery and a wider choice of catering options.
Aren't you worried that business travellers might be a little "lost", due to the lack of uniformity in the products offered by Qatar Airways on departure from Paris?
Frédéric Gossot - We currently offer two types of product in Paris: theA350-1000with the QSuiteand theA380whose business class is also an exceptional product, which won an award last year. Each product has its strengths, and in both cases the service is entirely personalised, à la carte.
Isn't the standardisation of services at Paris-CDG a priority imperative?
Frédéric Gossot - The product QSuite will be progressively deployed across the entire fleet, just as this new economy class will be deployed on the rest of our aircraft. But it's not necessarily feasible to put only one type of aircraft on a route. Demand varies according to the time of day, and our waves of connections. We position larger aircraft in time slots that allow connections to the most popular destinations.
What are your priorities as the new head of the French market?
Frédéric Gossot - The French market is one of the largest in Europe and I'm delighted to be contributing to Qatar Airways' development in France, as well as in the Benelux countries. My roadmap is to continue to grow Qatar Airways' market share in France, and in particular in the Benelux region. business segment.
Could this development involve an increase in frequencies, or even the arrival of Qatar Airways at a new airport?
Frédéric Gossot - We are impatiently awaiting the signature of the aviation agreement between the European Union and Qatar. As soon as the agreement is signed, we will look in detail at the opportunities that present themselves on the French market in terms of new services or increased frequencies.
Could Lyon airport be targeted?
Frédéric Gossot - Everything is open. A detailed analysis of the centres of potential will be carried out, and depending on the aircraft available at that time we will make our decision.
Are you thinking of taking advantage of bleisure to extend your stay in Doha beyond just a stopover?
Frédéric Gossot - Traffic to Doha remains a minority, since the vast majority of customers fly to other destinations, but it is a major area for development. We offer a 'stopover' product, with no extra charge for stopping off in Doha, and access to extremely advantageous rates in four- or five-star hotels on the outward or return journey. With this type of offer, we want to promote the discovery of the city, even for 24 hours, because there are some very interesting things to do in Doha, such as the rich cultural offer, with the new National Museum designed by the French architect Jean Nouvel. There's also a wide range of sports and beach activities. So we're also trying to sell Doha as a tourist destination in its own right.
How are relations with the Oneworld alliance ?
Frédéric Gossot - As our CEO, Mr Akbar Al Baker, has already pointed out, in addition to all our investments in the oneworld alliance, we are the second largest contributor to the alliance in terms of seats/kilometres. We have a strong interest in this alliance, but if Qatar Airways no longer had a financial interest in it, the airline would leave the alliance.
La "ashamed to fly seems to be gaining ground in Europe: do you fear an impact in the longer or shorter term?
Frédéric Gossot - Not necessarily, given that Qatar Airways is very sensitive to environmental issues. The company's major investment in modern, more fuel-efficient aircraft makes it one of the most modern fleets in the world, with a average age of four years. The company is also reducing the use of single-use plastic, and we are doing away with our paper in-flight magazine, integrating it into the entertainment system. We also have an important role to play at Doha International Airport, with a particular focus on water management, which is crucial in Qatar. Finally, Qatar Airways was one of the first partners of CORSIA (" Carbon Offset and Reduction Scheme for International Airlines"), a programme launched by the ICAO in 2018, which offsets the carbon effect through actions in other areas. Qatar Airways is therefore extremely involved in these environmental issues, and continues to study biofuel options.
