SYDNEY/DUBAI: Qatar Airways has struck a deal with Airbus to delay delivery of aircraft due to the Covid-19 situation and its effect on air travel.
However, the airline is still in talks with Boeing about deferrals, Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive Akbar Al Baker said on Wednesday. “We have the ability to bring forward the (Airbus) deliveries if there is a rebound in air travel,” Al Baker said at the CAPA Australia Pacific Aviation Summit. He provided no further details.
Al Baker said the airline had not reached an agreement with Boeing. “As far as Boeing is concerned, we are still in negotiations with them, but regardless of what they feel, an aircraft manufacturer needs to oblige customers in difficult times,” he said. “People who will not oblige and stand with us in this difficult time will not see us again.”
Knock-on effect
The national carriers said in June it would not take any new aircraft ordered from Boeing or Airbus in 2020 or 2021, adding there would be a knock-on effect to future deliveries due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The airline has 27 A350-1000s and 50 A321neos on order, according to the Airbus website. It has also ordered 60 777X aircraft, five 777 freighters and 23 787-9s from Boeing, the US manufacturer’s website said.
Qatar Airways had also ordered 737 MAX jets for its part-owned carrier Air Italy before its collapse and is in talks with Boeing about those aircraft, Al Baker said.