Middle Eastern carrier Qatar Airways has confirmed that it has acquired three Airbus A321neo twinjets which feature an all-economy configuration.
The Doha-based airline says the introduction of the twinjets is a response to “growing demand for economy-class travel on selected routes”.
Qatar Airways has 50 A321neos on order, deliveries of which will start in 2026. It does not currently operate the type, although it has previously introduced a small number of A321s.
It has not specified the number of seats but seat-maps on Qatar Airways’ reservation engine indicate a 236-seat layout, with no business-class cabin.
This is a particularly high density configuration for Qatar Airways, which strongly promotes its premium cabins. It offers business-class seats on its A320s – which have either 132 or 144 seats – as well as its 176-seat 737 Max 8s.
The three A321neos will be put on such routes as Medina and Tbilisi from around October.
“By integrating these extra A321neo aircraft, ahead of our new aircraft deliveries next year…we are better positioned to meet customer demand and strengthen our competitive edge,” says the carrier.
Qatar Airways says the all-economy aircraft illustrate the airline’s “commitment to continually enhancing our service offerings”, although it adds that its future A321neo deliveries will feature a “premium narrowbody product”.
The airline had intended to bring in A321neos as far back as 2019, having placed an order for 50 in 2017 – a deal which itself replaced an earlier agreement for the type.
But the order became caught up in a legal battle centred on Qatar’s A350s, and was subsequently cancelled before being reinstated – with later delivery slots – in 2023.
Airbus’s reconfiguration of exits for the A321neo, plus the use of slim seats and more efficient interior fittings, enabled it to raise seat density over the earlier 220-seat A321. The A321neo is able to accommodate up to 244 passengers.
