Exclusive! Want to know what Qatar's A350 looks like inside?

As I mentioned yesterday, I'm at the India Aviation 2016 show. Today was day 2, and my initial plan was to have a look at Indigo's new A320 NEO. However, I learnt that that particular aircraft left late yesterday, to complete final DGCA checks today, so as to be operationally inducted into active routes starting tomorrow.

Nonetheless, thanks to the good offices of some friends at Qatar Airways and Airbus, I was able to get a first-hand view of Qatar Airways' A350. The fact that it was an empty cabin (barring 5 visitors from my group and about 8 airline folks including cabin crew) made it even more exciting. I'm really grateful to Qatar Airways and Airbus for this opportunity!

That's not me in the picture!

Qatar Airways A350 - exterior

Qatar Airways A350 - exterior

Let me tell you, those engines are massive.

The aircraft on display at the India Aviation 2016 show has the tail number A7-ALH, and is a brand new aircraft. In fact, Qatar Airways took delivery of this just over a week ago, on 7 March 2016! Talk about your latest aircraft being on display!

Qatar Airways A350 - wings

Because the show is being held at the Begumpet airport and aircraft are on the apron, we ascended using the staircase provided by Air India.

Qatar Airways A350 - staircase

The cabin crew took us through the cabin on a conducted tour, answered all our questions, and then let us roam about as we pleased!

There is no first class on the A350. Just business and economy. So let's have a look at those.

Business class

Business class on the A350 is, naturally, fantastic! Business class has 36 seats in a 1-2-1 reverse herringbone configuration, which means all seats have aisle access. This is the exact same product that's there on Qatar's A380 and the Boeing 787.

There's a front cabin that has 24 seats, and then a rear part of the cabin with a further 12 seats, all in business class.

Qatar Airways A350 - business class cabin

Qatar Airways A350 - business class cabin (forward)

Qatar Airways A350 - business class cabin (rear)

Noticed the absence of overhead luggage bins in the middle section of business class. This actually gives a feeling of lots of space, which is great!

We were served some champagne, nuts and olives, even while we were on the tour, from the display at the on-board bar that segregates the forward and rear business class cabins!

Qatar Airways A350 - champagne

Qatar Airways A350 - nuts, olives and snacks at the on-board bar

The seat is 180-degree fully flat, with a seat pitch of 50 inches. Seating comfort is very good, though there's a lack of privacy, since the seat shell doesn't cover the sides.

Qatar Airways A350 - seat and monitor

The entertainment system is on Thales Avant, a 17" screen, with over 1000 entertainment options. The flight also has wifi and GSM compatibility.

Qatar Airways A350 - leg space

Qatar Airways A350 - seat fully reclined

Sleeping on the A350's business class seats is also extremely comfortable, which is exactly how their business class PJs look as well! And of course, a Giorgio Armani amenity kit.

Qatar Airways A350 - Giorgio Armani amenity kit

What's not to love about this?

Economy class

After looking at business class, I expected economy to be above par from the point of view of some of the middle-eastern airlines, and I was not disappointed. Having said that, I'm not sure if economy class on the other aircraft of Qatar Airways would be the same as on the A350.

Economy class features 247 seats in a 3-3-3- configuration with a 6-degree recline. However, the good and interesting part is that the seat base itself moves forward a little bit when you recline, which provides a bit more of comfort. Seats typically have a 31 or 32 inch seat-pitch, and it is far more comfortable than the average Jet Airways domestic economy class seat.

Qatar Airways A350 - economy class cabin

Qatar Airways A350 - economy class leg space

Qatar Airways A350 - economy class leg space

Qatar Airways A350 - economy class cabin

Qatar Airways A350 - economy class seats

Qatar Airways A350 - economy class cabin

Entertainment is on a Thales Avant system, and features a 10.6" screen on every seat. Wifi access is available in economy class as well.

However, I did find the economy class toilets a bit too small.

Qatar Airways A350 - economy class toilet

Qatar Airways A350 - economy class toilet

Bonus features - crew rest areas and cockpit

We also got to see the crew rest areas and the cockpit - the latter is generally off limits in most cases, so this was special!

There are 2 rest areas for crew, in the aircraft. One is located between the forward galley and the cockpit, and can seat one and sleep two. This is accessible via a door followed by 5 steep steps.

Qatar Airways A350 - crew rest area (forward)

Basically, the sleep area extends on top of the forward galley, which is itself quite large.

There's another at the rear, accessible from the rear galley, which can sleep 6.

Qatar Airways A350 - crew rest area (aft)

As you can see, there were some cardboard boxes which obstructed the passageway, and hence I couldn't climb into the rest area as such.

And then of course, the ultra spacious cockpit. Apart from the two pilots, there's a designated seat for 

the flight attendant, and one more seat for an additional pilot, located behind the commander's seat (ie, on the left).

Qatar Airways A350 - cockpit and controls

Qatar Airways A350 - cockpit displays

The tour ended after about 45 minutes, and left me wanting to experience an actual flight on this awesome product! Once again, many thanks to the folks at Qatar and Airbus who made this possible.