Qatar Airways buys six Airbus A320s

Qatar Airways has ordered six new Airbus A320s to be delivered from 2001 to 2003.
The airline has made its first entry into the international financing market to finance the aircraft. Barclays Capital has joined Germany's HypoVereinsbank and Qatar National Bank in arranging the financing.
The banks are making available up to 100 per cent of the value of the new aircraft, which was not revealed, together with arrangements to make pre-delivery progress payments to Airbus Industrie. Aircraft Leasing and Management Ltd advised the airline in the financing.
"Qatar Airways operates one of the youngest fleets in the Middle East and, to sustain the airline's growth strategy, we are investing strongly in new aircraft, as well as new products and customer services. The new Airbus is an important part of our fleet renewal programme," chief executive Akbar Al Baker said.
"This is Qatar Airways' first foray into the international financing market. We went through a rigorous selection procedure," said Surinder Sarna, the airline's general manager for finance and administration.