It is not unusual for carriers to paint aircraft, sometimes known as 'retrojets,' in old-school liveries to celebrate their history. Indeed, it has almost become something of an industry standard over the years. Qatar Airways is the latest airline to reveal such a design, with the aircraft in question receiving its new look in Toulouse, France.
Commemorating the carrier's early years
Qatar Airways recently revealed the retro livery that now adorns one of the Doha-based oneworld member's Boeing 777s. In a corresponding statement released today, the airline explained that the old-school paint scheme is "part of its 25th-anniversary celebrations." Commenting on the repaint, CEO Akbar Al Baker stated:
"We are tremendously excited to celebrate our 25th anniversary by introducing this unique aircraft to our fleet. We hope this retro design will bring many memories of travel to our passengers, especially those who experienced traveling with us in our early years. This livery marks the milestone of how far we have come as the national carrier, evolving into a six-time World’s Best Airline winner."
As seen below, the newly repainted aircraft's fuselage is primarily white, with a two-stripe maroon cheatline that stretches the length of the 777. This contrasts with Qatar Airways' standard livery, which presently sees its aircraft sport predominantly grey fuselages. The tail design is inverted compared to the standard livery, with maroon being the background color, rather than that of the carrier's logo.
An interesting location for the repaint
The registration of the Boeing 777-300ER that Qatar Airways has chosen to adorn with the retro livery is A7-BAC. According to data from ch-aviation.com, this twinjet is 13.63 years old, having joined the Qatari flag carrier in August 2008. With a capacity of 354, it seats 312 economy class and 42 business class passengers.
Looking at data from Flightradar24.com, we can see that A7-BAC appears to have undergone the retro repaint job in none other than Toulouse, France. After all, it spent nearly a month there after arriving from Doha on January 26th this year. It returned to Hamad International Airport (DOH) last week, on February 16th.
Toulouse is also a key base for multinational European plane manufacturer Airbus. As such, Qatar Airways' decision to have its 777 repainted there could raise a few eyebrows, given the ongoing spat between the two companies. This has resorted in order cancelations and legal proceedings amid a scandal that, interestingly enough, pertains to cracked paintwork on Qatar Airways' Airbus A350 widebodies.
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A big year for Qatar Airways
As noted earlier, A7-BAC left Toulouse for Doha on February 16th. However, the following day, its first revenue-earning flight in the retro livery saw it return to France, namely in the form of a round trip to Paris CDG and back. In the days that have followed, it has also served Cape Town, Male, Manchester, and Sydney.
As 2022, progresses, A7-BAC will no doubt be spotted at various other airports across Qatar Airways' network. This year is shaping up to be a big one for the airline, with Qatar hosting the FIFA World Cup in November and December. Al Baker states:
"As we look forward, this is a year of endless possibilities for the entire Qatar Airways Group family, with several important landmark events and celebrations planned across this period."
What do you make of this retro paint job? Have you ever flown on A7-BAC? Let us know your thoughts and experiences in the comments!