Business | Aviation
Qatar Airways chief 'pessimistic' about Airbus orders during Dubai Air Show
The Doha-based airline was expected to make an announcement on Tuesday with Airbus during the show for additional five A380s and approximately 50 of the A320 neo
- By Shweta Jain, Senior Reporter
- Published: 15:30 November 15, 2011
Dubai: Qatar Airways on Tuesday slammed European planemaker, Airbus, and cancelled a scheduled news announcement for Airbus orders earlier in the day.
The carrier’s chief executive, Akbar Al Baker, said, Qatar Airways has reached an “impasse” with Airbus on the potential orders the carrier was looking to place for additional A380s and A320 neos, adding he is “pessimistic” about an agreement with Airbus during the Dubai Air Show. “If there’s any deal, it would be the icing on the cake for the Dubai Air Show,” he said.
The Doha-based airline was expected to make an announcement on Tuesday with Airbus during the show for additional five A380s and approximately 50 of the A320 neo – the revamped version of Airbus’ smallest range aircraft.
Asked to elaborate on reasons for stalling the Airbus order, Qatar Airways CEO, Al Baker, on Tuesday said: “We have reached an impasse with them [Airbus]. We thought that we will conclude our agreement and make a very large announcement today. Unfortunately, I feel that Airbus is still learning how to make airplanes.”
He added: “We have cancelled the announcement and we are at an impasse. If this is resolved, we will make an announcement. Otherwise, we will say goodbye.”
Asked if Qatar Airways, which on Tuesday signed a $560 million (at current list prices) deal with Boeing Co. for two Boeing 777-200 LR (long rage) freighter aircraft, was looking to place any further deals with Boeing, Al Baker said: “Yes, we will also talk to them for something else. We will wait to see we will resolve our impasse with Airbus first.”
A350 delays not yet a concern:
Qatar Airways has been a launch customer for all three versions of the A350 – the A350-800,-900, and -1000, and all of them have been delayed. Asked how long could Qatar Airways wait for the same, Al Baker said: “Every manufacturer knows that Qatar Airways will not wait indefinitely.”
Commenting further on the delays, he said: “A six-month delay for a new programme, in my view, is insignificant. Any further delays, will of course, concern us. Having said that, we were informed of the six-month delay on the A350 programme and we accept that. We have an agreement with Airbus for that delay.”
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