Qatar Airways unveiled its new business-class pods,
featuring what the carrier says are the first double beds in that cabin class.
The QSuite, as Qatar is calling the product, will be
retrofitted onto existing Qatar aircraft beginning in June at a pace of
approximately one per month.
Qatar unveiled the product at the ITB Berlin travel trade
show.
"Our unique and patented design is a world first in
many ways and challenges industry norms by offering passengers more privacy,
more choice and more personalization," Qatar CEO Akbar Al Baker said in a statement.
A video of the QSuite pods shows that the non-window seats
are configured in clusters of four, with two side-by-side pods opposing two
other side-by-side pods. Passengers can use moveable barriers to keep the pods
separate. But they can also adjust the barriers and move TV monitors so that
they are clear to interact with each other. Families of four will be able to
share meals or play games together from what amounts to a private suite.
Business teams can conduct meetings.
The side-by-side pods can also lie flat together into one
double bed.
Qatar says the QSuite was designed over the course of two
years. The carrier flies to 10 U.S. cities from its hub in Doha.