Qatar Executive is the first airline to fly the G700 outside of the USA.
Qatar Executive, the charter arm of Qatar Airways, has welcomed its first two Gulfstream G700s to Doha today. With this, the subsidiary has become the first international charter operator of the new aircraft type.
The G700 brings with it new Rolls-Royce Pearl 700 engines, more efficient than the BR725 powerplants on its sister G650. It also adds more range, originally pegged at 7,500 NM but upgraded to 7,750 NM during flight testing – significantly improved over the 7,000 NM of the G650. Cabin altitude is also lower than the G650, making passengers feel as if they’re at only 2,840 feet when flying at 41,000 feet. During testing, its top speed was also upgraded to Mach 0.935, making it the fastest Gulfstream business jet.
Inside, the cabin is longer by around 10 feet (3 meters), allowing for up to five separate living areas. Overall, it delivers a cabin volume of 2,603 cu ft (73.7 m3), around 450 cu ft larger than the G650.
The G700 was certified by the FAA in March of this year and by EASA this month.
Inside, the cabin is longer by around 10 feet (3 meters), allowing for up to five separate living areas. Overall, it delivers a cabin volume of 2,603 cu ft (73.7 m3), around 450 cu ft larger than the G650.
Qatar Airways first launched Qatar Executive 15 years ago, at the Paris Air Show in June 2009. At launch, it kicked off with Bombardier jets: three Challenger 605, a Global Express XRS and a pair of Global 5000. Today, the Challengers and the XRS are gone, but the fleet has grown massively with the help of Gulfstream. The first G650 joined the fleet in 2015, and now the carrier has 15 of the type in its fleet. This makes it the world’s largest owner and only commercial operator of the type.
The two G700s registered A7-CHA and -CHB join Qatar Executive’s extensive fleet of 15 Gulfstream G650s. Two more G700s are nearing completion and should arrive in Doha in the next couple of weeks. Qatar Executive plans to put the type into service from June and already has a long list of interested parties keen to be among the first to fly it.
The complete order of nine aircraft has a delivery schedule set out, although the executives did not wish to comment on the precise timetable.
