Qatar Airways: 5 Special Liveries Used By The Middle Eastern Airline

Qatar Airways(QR), referred to an ME3 (as it is one of the three big airlines from the Middle East), operates a fleet of Airbus and Boeing aircraft. Its oldest aircraft is the Airbus A330 type, while the youngest ones are the Dreamliners it acquired a few months ago. Regardless of the aircraft type (and the age of the aircraft), the planes operated by this carrier have always had a burgundy (the color of the Qatar flag) touch to it. The most dominant colors donned by Qatar’s flag carrier are the lightest shade of grey (on which the Burgundy is so elegantly, minimistically daubed), and white. 

Aircraft Painting: What is it, Why is it done, and How?

Despite the fact that grey is often perceived to be a dull, uninspiring color, Elsa Godlow felt that grey (skies) told the truth, for they were reflective, uncompromising, and: 

Unhoping,
Cold.

Grey skies,
No fear in them
Nor any joy,
No tragedy,
All grey…..

Unweeping, smileless skies.
They do not lie.

But the bottom half of the aircraft was painted white. This made the carrier’s livery added a touch of unobtrusiveness to it. But Qatar’s aircraft have been painted in some special liveries too. Let’s take a look at five of them.  

5. The World Cup in Style

On its triple sevens

The 2022 FIFA World Cup glittered with Lionel Messi, the “God Of the Game”, who once was a part of Barcelona Football Club – the same club with which Qatar Airways had once partnered. In 2022, the airline used a special livery on its operations during the World Cup, with the livery being introduced as far back as 2020 and having been displayed in the Farnborough International Airshow organized in the year of the World Cup. The aircraft that donned the colors during the event was a Boeing 777 aircraft registered A7-BEB.

A year prior to the start of the World Cup, the same Boeing 777 aircraft that glittered with FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ livery (carrying the Winner’s Trophy) had flown over all eight stadiums that would later host matches. 

During the World Cup, the carrier also offered a few perks such as:

• Privilege Club, the Official Frequent Flyer Programme of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ started giving its valued members 3,650 bonus Avios for every booking made between 21-23 November 2021.
• In September 2021, Qatar Airways Holidays launched its “special fan travel packages, inclusive of match tickets, return flights and accommodation options”.  

4. Retro Livery in 2022

Marking the carrier’s silver jubilee

Apart from being the year of the FIFA World Cup, 2022 was also the year when Qatar Airways stepped into the 25th anniversary of its operations. During this occassion, the carrier unveiled a special retro livery on the Boeing 777-300ER, which took to the skies along various routes including the one from Doha Hamad International Airport (DOH) to Paris Charles De Gaulle Airport (CDG).

The first livery of Qatar Airways consisted of two thin stripes that ran down the side of its airplanes and blended into a solid fill for the vertical stabilizer. The vertical stabilizer saw abstract representation of an Oryx encircled in all white. Norebbo.com reported that one of the interesting aspects of this livery was:

 

“ the fact that it was slightly different on either side of the aircraft. On the left side, the Qatar titles were displayed in English (above the pinstripes). Directly underneath (in the lower pinstripe), it was displayed in Arabic. It was reversed on the right side of the aircraft. The main Qatar titles were written in Arabic (above the pinstripes), and spelled out in English in the bottom pinstripe.” 

Qatar’s second livery was introduced in 1997 (and was used until 2006). Some of its fissures were:

• Elimination of the cheatlines
• A redesigned Oryx logo with abstract horizontal lines replacing the circular outline 

Qatar’s present livery was introduced in 2006 and has been a part of the airline ever since.

3. Partnering with Formula 1

Taking the mantle from Emirates

When  Qatar Airways (QR) became “Official Global Airline Partner of Formula 1” (as the Middle East carrier took the title sponsorship of three races that season), we saw a livery that comprised of Formula 1 logo on the rear end of the fuselage. The livery draped with the colors of a Formula 1 driver was introduced in its Boeing 777-300ER registered as A7-BEL (that had first taken to the skies in July 2017). The livery was introduced on the backdrop of Emirates having canceled its F1 sponsorship on the charge that F1 was asking too much for a sponsorship deal. After all, F1 was “looking for over double the original $25 million per year amount that Emirates had been paying most recently from 2018 to 2022”. 

Despite having a livery that was repurposed for F1, the purple, maroon, and black hues that portrayed a motorsport driver wasn’t far from the theme of Qatar’s current livery. After Qatar had partnered with F1, His Excellency Mr. Akbar Al Baker, Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive and Chairman of Qatar Tourism, was buoyed about the prospect of representing F1 and commented: 

“The months of October and November will deliver a collection of world-class automotive activities dedicated to fans around the world. As the Official Global Airline Partner of Formula 1, we are honoured to host international visitors to Qatar; once again delivering our unparalleled hospitality and bringing the world closer together through sport.”

2. Paris Saint-Germain

Representing the biggest club in France

Much like all the special liveries we’ve touched upon so far, the partnership between the biggest club in France, Paris Saint-Germain (PSG), and Qatar Airlines was also seen on the carrier’s Boeing 777. The partnership between these two giants in their respective fields was first introduced in 2020, and as of now, the partnership is set to extend to 2028.  

When the partnership was first unveiled, a few other perks were announced, too:

• Qatar Airways Holidays would offer official Paris Saint-Germain fan travel packages.
• PSG made it clear that Qatar Duty Free (QDF) would be its Official Airport and Official Duty Free.

 

When PSG first entered into a contract with Qatar Airways, the livery saw the logo of this club (where Messi, Neymar, and Mbappe trio-ed) painted as a football on the fuselage, just above the wings. The aircraft also featured the painting of footballer (with a silhouetted face) in the predominantly blue (with central red stripe) hues of the club, appearing to kick the football (or shall we say, logo?). 

The airline also introduced a special livery on the occasion the French club lifted its first ever Champions trophy earlier this June, as a Boeing 777-300ER registered A7-BED was painted all-blue exterior with white titles. 

1. Expo-themed livery in 2023

Featuring the oldest aircraft type operated by Qatar

Qatar Airways’ Expo 2023 livery is perhaps the most exclusive special liveries it has produced, not least because the livery was painted on its Airbus A330-300. The Expo 2023 was also called the 2023 International Horticultural Exposition and lasted from October 2023 to March 2024. This six-month event themed ‘Green Desert, Better Environment’ was organized in Al Bidda Park, one of the biggest parks in Doha.

The expo aimed to combat desertification by drawing up innovative approaches to deal with this environmental problem. On the occassion, Qatar Airways promised an in-flight experience that included:

• “ an exclusive à la carte menu spotlighting Qatari farm-sourced ingredients, along with Expo-themed in-flight entertainment.
• a dedicated Expo channel offering over 30 gardening-related shows, ensuring a memorable horticultural experience in-flight”