Dubai: Qatar Airways is in discussions with Canadian aircraft manufacturer Bombardier for a possible order of up to 30 C Series jets by the end of July, the company chief executive said.
The airline is replacing its older narrow body, single aisle aircraft and is looking for next-generation planes in its acquisitions. "We will always have a need for fleet replacement," chief executive, Akbari Al Bakar told a press conference in Dubai yesterday at the Arabian Travel Market.
This could be the main order by the carrier at the Farnborough Airshow this year, Al Bakar said.
A narrow-body aircraft with 110 or 149 seats, the C Series has a unit cost of $46.7 million (Dh171.4 million). The aircraft is in direct competition with the Airbus A320 and Boeing's 737 next generation aircraft. Additionally, Bombardier's new aircraft have up to 20 per cent higher fuel efficiency, according to reports.
"We are interested in buying aircraft that have reduced fuel consumption ... Bombardier has given strong data on fuel consumption [efficiency]," Al Baker said.
Meanwhile, Airbus is working on re-engined models of its comparable narrow body aircraft that could intensify the competition at the lower end of its production line.
With Pratt & Whitney's Geared Turbofan Engine (GTF), Bombardier is first in the market for next-generation engines.
Deliveries
Currently, Qatar Airways only has three business jets from Bombardier. If it chooses to buy commercial aircraft from Bombardier, it will be looking at additional associated fixed costs on top of the purchase price.
On the other hand, the airline already has over 60 commercial aircraft from Airbus in its service.
Al Bakar said that if Airbus offers re-engined narrow body planes with GTF engines, he would be "happy".
One of the largest regional carriers, Qatar Airways is rapidly expanding its destinations as it takes delivery of almost one aircraft a month.
With a fleet of 82, it is waiting for delivery of 105 Airbus and 75 Boeing aircraft.
Next week it will take delivery of the first 777 freighter.
It has speeded up the delivery of six 787 Dreamliners from Boeing next year.
It announced four new routes from its Doha hub this year to Bangalore, Copenhagen, Ankara and Tokyo and another three, Barcelona, Sao Paulo and Buenos Aires, will start next month.
Al Bakar said it is paying for the new deliveries partly from its own resources and financing the remainder.
