Qatar Airways and global technology leader Thales have announced a strategic partnership to establish a dedicated Inflight Entertainment (IFE) service and maintenance center in Doha. The new facility aims to enhance the airline’s operational efficiency while supporting its growing fleet with faster and more comprehensive technical services.
The service hub will provide key support functions, including repairs, spare parts distribution, technical assistance, and line maintenance for Thales’ IFE systems across Qatar Airways’ aircraft. By bringing these capabilities in-house, the airline seeks to improve response times, minimize downtime, and ensure an uninterrupted entertainment experience for passengers.
Ali Al Saadi, Qatar Airways’ Chief MRO Officer, emphasized the importance of innovation in aviation, stating, “We are pleased to see the progression of our work with Thales. It is vitally important that we continue to explore new ways to ensure our technology and capabilities are at the cutting edge of modern aviation, and I am confident that our partnership with Thales will enable this to happen.”
This initiative aligns with Qatar’s Vision 2030, a national strategy aimed at economic diversification and job creation. The new IFE facility is expected to contribute to the growth of the country’s aerospace sector while generating high-skilled employment opportunities in maintenance, repair, and operations (MRO).
Qatar Airways has maintained a longstanding relationship with Thales, which supplies IFE systems for several of the airline’s aircraft, including the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, Airbus A350, and A380. This collaboration recently expanded to include the airline’s new A321 NX fleet, which will feature Thales’ state-of-the-art FlytEDGE cloud-native IFE solution.
Thomas Got, Vice President of Aviation Global Services at Thales, highlighted the significance of the new venture, saying, “Our partnership with Qatar Airways is growing stronger. This MOU underscores our shared commitment to even greater operational excellence and lays the groundwork for developing a local service hub and expertise in Doha to support the airline’s future growth ambitions.”
With this strategic move, Qatar Airways reinforces its commitment to innovation and customer experience, ensuring that passengers continue to enjoy world-class inflight entertainment while the airline advances its position as a leader in global aviation.
