Qatar Airways Swapping to B777-200LRs on Auckland Route

Qatar Airways is changing the aircraft type operating its daily Doha (DOH) – Auckland (AKL) flights. Between June 1 and October 24, 2025, Qatar Airways will service the route with a B777-200LR instead of an A350-1000.

What’s the difference? To begin with, Qatar’s B777-200LRs have an average fleet age of over 15 years whereas the A350-1000s have an average fleet age of over five years.

The B777s seat 272 passengers in two cabin classes – economy and business. The A350-1000s seat 327 passengers in economy and business class. Both aircraft types feature the well-regarded Qsuites in the business cabin.

Around ten years older than the A350s, Qatar's B777-200LRs are noisier, a little more shop-worn (for instance, smaller, shabbier toilets), and a little less comfortable to fly on - especially for economy class passengers.

However, the swap to the smaller aircraft reflects lower passenger demand in and out of New Zealand over the Southern Hemisphere winter.

The A350-1000 flight to Auckland typically takes over 17 hours each way and is the world’s longest scheduled A350-1000 service. It is also Qatar Airway’s longest route.

Photo: Qatar Airways