New Qatar Airways Qsuite Next Gen Business Class Launching Mid-2027, But Not As Planned

In July 2024, Qatar Airways unveiled its newest business class product, which will be known as Qsuites Next Gen. While the initial plan was for this to be installed as of late 2025, that timeline didn’t stick, due to delivery delays with the Boeing 777X. There’s an update, as Qatar Airways now intends to debut this product on the Airbus A350, as of mid-2027. Let’s cover all the details. Qatar Airways plans new business class productQatar Airways Qsuite Next Gen rollout scheduleQsuite Next Gen looks spectacularly goodBottom line Qatar Airways plans new business class product Qatar Airways is known for its Qsuites business class. This is one of the world’s best business class experiences, between an excellent soft and hard product. Nearly 10 years after the product was introduced, it’s available on most long haul aircraft, but not all. Even though this continues to be one of the world’s most incredible business class experiences, that’s not stopping the airline from innovating. Qatar Airways plans to introduce Qsuite Next Gen, its newest long haul business class experience. This product is evolutionary rather than revolutionary, which isn’t surprising, when you consider how good Qatar Airways’ product already is. However, the improvements are substantial, and I have to imagine that this will easily be the world’s overall best business class experience. The Qsuite Next Gen business class cabin has the same general layout as the current product, which is to say that it’s in a staggered configuration, alternating between being forward and rear facing. However, there are some significant improvements, which will be especially great for those traveling together. Here are some of the highlights of what’s changing: A new movable 4K OLED Panasonic Astrova inflight entertainment screen, which can be repositioned to the side to create the largest social and productivity space in the sky, for up to four passengers in the Quad Suite, and up to two passengers in the Companion Suite New customization options, including ambient lighting, privacy controls, and a touchscreen passenger control unit A larger lie flat seat, as well as a large double bed Added privacy, with taller, digitally controlled dividers New storage, including enclosed drawers where you can store your phone, watch, jewelry, etc. Significantly improved tech, including new wireless charging Qatar Airways’ Qsuite Next Gen business class Qatar Airways’ Qsuite Next Gen business class Qatar Airways’ Qsuite Next Gen business class Qatar Airways’ Qsuite Next Gen business class Below you can see a video and some pictures highlighting some of the features of the new Qsuite Next Gen experience. Qatar Airways Qsuite Next Gen rollout schedule Initially, Qatar Airways’ plan was to introduce the Qsuite Next Gen business class product on the Boeing 777-9. The airline has at least 60 of these planes on order, and when the product was unveiled mid-2024, the plan was for deliveries to start as of late 2025. As you’d expect, that timeline has been pushed back considerably, as the 777X still isn’t certified. Currently, Qatar Airways expects to take delivery of its first 777X in late 2027, best case scenario… and that could easily be delayed again! We should also see a new first class product debut on these planes (or at least a subfleet of them). However, with the continued 777X delays, the airline is developing a new plan. Executive Traveller quotes Qatar Airways CEO Hamad Ali Al-Khater as saying that Qsuite Next Gen will now debut in mid-2027, on the Airbus A350-1000. Specifically, the plan is that the remaining (roughly one dozen) A350 deliveries will feature these new cabins as of then. This is the first time that we’ve heard of any plane other than the 777-9 getting the Qsuite Next Gen product, so that’s exciting. However, this will only create even more product inconsistency, since there don’t seem to be plans to retrofit existing A350-1000s, at least as of now. It really is amazing how inconsistent Qatar Airways’ fleet has become, as the airline has just sort of given up on retrofitting any existing aircraft with the current “latest generation” business class. Qsuite Next Gen will no longer debut on the Boeing 777X Qsuite Next Gen looks spectacularly good When Qsuite Next Gen was unveiled in mid-2024, it was more or less what I was expecting. Qatar Airways already has the world’s best business class, and I expected some incremental improvements that build on what the airline has already created. That’s exactly what the airline did, and I’m impressed. Qatar Airways’ current business class Of course the improved tech and design updates are awesome. But the area where Qatar Airways really excels is when it comes to being able to enjoy the flight with travel companions. The ability to turn a set of four seats into a “suite” of sorts was always awesome, and now that’s being made even better. For those of us traveling as pairs who still like window seats, I adore the idea of being able to create a double suite by the windows, with two seats behind one another. The best part of Qatar Airways’ Qsuite Next Gen This is such an awesome area to innovate, because so many new business class products don’t seem to consider the varying needs of passengers. We shouldn’t just view seating quality individually, but should consider that some people are traveling as pairs, or even as groups. That’s something that Qatar Airways considers more than any other airline. Now, purely in terms of space, I think ANA’s “The Room” business class still sets the standard for business class seats. However, the product lacks so many of the things that Qatar Airways does well, and which the airline is improving even more with this new product. Furthermore, when it comes to business class in the Gulf region, Qatar Airways certainly beats Emirates. All Nippon Airways’ The Room business class Bottom line Qatar Airways plans to introduce a new flagship business class product, which will be named Qsuite Next Gen. This is an evolution of the existing product, rather than a revolution. However, there are some really positive updates, including improved tech, and the ability to better enjoy your flight with your travel companion, family, etc. The plan has been for this product to debut on the Boeing 777-9, and that has meant that this new product has been on a seemingly endless delay. There’s now at least some good news, as the airline has decided to also install this on newly delivered Airbus A350-1000s as of mid-2027. Unfortunately there are only about a dozen of those A350 orders remaining, and there are no plans to retrofit existing planes with these seats, at least as of now. What do you make of Qatar Airways’ Qsuite Next Gen business class plans?