Qatar Airways to phase out all of its Boeing 777 fleet within three to four years

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Doha-based airline Qatar Airways proposed to phase out its 57-strong fleet of Boeing 777s within three to four years according airline's chief executive Akbar Al Baker who revealed the plans in a recent interview.

As of now, Qatar Airways operates a fleet of 48 Boeing 777-300ER jets and 9 Boeing 777-200LR jets.

The airline aims to replace its current fleet with more fuel-efficient airplanes which are likely to arrive in the aviation market typically the Boeing 777X series aircraft as a part of "green modernization".

“We are very conscious about our emissions and we are very keen to keep on introducing fuel-efficient aeroplanes,” Qatar Airways Group CEO His Excellency Akbar Al Baker tells Executive Traveller.

Baker also revealed that the airline’s fleet of Airbus A330’s, some of which are over 15-years-old, were already being decommissioned and that 29 single-aisle Airbus A320 aircraft are likely to be retired in the next few years.
These aircraft will also be replaced by new and more fuel-efficient aircraft.

Al Baker also said that the new-for-old swap would see its Boeing 787-9s eventually “replace the 787-8s”. “We plan to to reduce our emissions and have carbon-neutral growth over a period of time.” he added.

These replacements aim to serve a like-for-like swap.
For example:

The fleet of 48 Boeing 777-300ER will be replaced by 50-strong order of Boeing 777-9.
The fleet of 9 Boeing 777-200LR will be replaced by 10 extended range Boeing 777-8.
An unfilled order of 23 Dreamliner 787-9s may replace some of the airline’s older 787-8 aircraft.
Finally, 50 A321neo aircraft from Airbus will replace the airline’s current single-aisle fleet i.e the A320s.

Moreover, the Boeing 777X jets is said to feature a second generation of the airline’s highly-regarded business class Qsuite, with Al Akbar confirming “we are developing new seats for the 777s.”
In addition, some of the 777-9s may also incorporate “a very exclusive first class cabin of just four seats,” Al Baker says, describing the under-development suites as a deliberately “very niche product” for well-heeled Qatari travellers.

“We have huge demand here in Qatar to two or three European destinations” such as London and Paris, “so we may introduce a very small first class cabin for our local passengers who want a very exclusive first class product.” he added.

What are your opinions on their modifications and replacements with the current fleet?