Qatar frustrated over delay of $1.2b planes

Qatar’s national airline will not be cancelling a deal worth $1.2 billion for the delivery of four long-haul jets.

Yesterday an Airbus spokesman was quoted by Reuters as saying the deal was cancelled due to “known supply chain issues”. Asked what would happen to the undelivered A350-900 jets, he said: “They will be reallocated”.

Despite the fact that media reports allege that the purchase of four Airbus A350s, worth $311 million each, were cancelled over delays in their delivery Qatar Airways Chief Executive Akbar Al-Baker told Al Jazeera, that the deal will not be cancelled though he blamed the manufacturer for the delay.

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Speaking at a news conference in Dublin Al-Baker said: “We are asking Airbus to deliver it faster, the delay is from Airbus.”

There were speculations that the blockade against Qatar by its neighbours – which is said to have forced the airline to halt a number of flights indefinitely – was forcing Doha to reconsider adding new planes to its fleet.

One aircraft finance industry official told Reuters “all the Gulf carriers realise they have ordered too many wide-bodied aircraft and don’t have room for them, especially now.”

However, last month Al-Baker denied the Gulf spat would interfere with Qatar Airways’ growth or aircraft deliveries. In March he was reported to have expressed his frustration towards Airbus, “I have to scream at Airbus to get my planes faster,” he said, adding:

“I am nearly eight destinations behind schedule because of delays in aircraft deliveries. I hope this will be resolved during this year.”