Qatar Airways unveiled its new QSuite business class seats featuring the industry’s first-ever double bed.
The first seats will be retrofitted onto the airline’s existing aircraft from June onwards, at a rate of about one plane per month.
Unveiling the seats at ITB travel show in Berlin this week, chief executive Akbar Al Baker confirmed the airline holds “a global patent” on the design of the seat “and the details of that design”.
As well as the double bed, the seats, which have been made with hand-stitched Italian leather and satin rose gold finishing, include privacy panels that stow away, allowing passengers in adjoining seats to create their own private room.
Adjustable panels and movable TV monitors on the centre four seats will also create a private area for groups travelling together.
Exclusively-designed cotton business class sleeper suits designed by The White Company and new dining choices are also being introduced.
Al Baker declined to give details of the investment in the seat saying: “I don’t like to show off how much money I spend.”
A new economy seat is also under development which Al Baker described it as “a new concept”.