Posted on 05/05/2005 7:39:21 AM PDT by wk4bush2004
DUBAI: Qatar Airways will announce a major order for new aircraft at the Paris Airshow next month. “We are talking to both Boeing and Airbus and hope to make an announcement in June,” Qatar Airways chief executive officer Akbar al-Baker told Gulf Times here yesterday on the sidelines of the Arabian Travel Market (ATM). The airline eyes both Airbus A350 and Boeing 787, he said. Asked how many aircraft Qatar Airways would order, al-Baker said that would be announced only during the next month’s Paris Airshow. However, he indicated that it would be a “huge order” for an airline of Qatar Airways’ size. “Anyway, we plan to have some 120 aircraft by 2012 or 2014. At that time we will be among the major airlines in the world,” he said. The impending aircraft order followed a major booking made by Qatar Airways in 2003 for some 32 Airbus aircraft valued at $5bn. Currently, the airline operates some 40, all-Airbus aircraft, all Airbus-made. Qatar Airways is well on course to offer its shares to the public shortly, al-Baker has said. He said the airline was now in a better shape to go public in the wake of three consecutive years of profit in 2002-2003, 2003-2004 and 2004-2005. However, the profit was generated by the Qatar Airways Group as a whole and not the airline alone. “As an airline we are still in the red. But it is basically due to our commitments as a fast expanding and modern airline,” he said. Al-Baker said high oil prices eroded Qatar Airways’ profit considerably like other airlines. “Last year we spent $68mn over our budgeted amount on fuel bill. Nearly 30% of our total bill is now accounted for by fuel charges alone. In the next fiscal we expect the bill to go $100mn over our budgeted amount,” al-Baker said. He denied reports that Qatar Airways was being given fuel on subsidised rates by the Government of Qatar. “It is absolutely false. We get fuel at the rates other airlines pay. Our international creditors including banks will vouch for this.”
The fuel comments would indicate they'll go for the 787, which should get about 3-4% better fuel economy per passenger than anything around today.
Right. Airbus lost Air Canada and apparently Northwest on the A350. Since Qatar Airways only operates Airbus aircraft, it would be a major blow to Airbus for Boeing to win the order.
Wonder what tricks AirBarf will pull to try to get this order?
An awful lot of new plane deals all the sudden. And there are still a lot of used planes on the market.
The EU may threaten sanctions against Qatari oil or some other crazy stuff like that.
do they owe money to airbus? Perhaps airbus will forgive the past debt if they agree to take delivery of more airbus product.
Used planes are cheaper but they're not as fuel efficient. Airlines need more fuel efficient aircraft like the Boeing 787 because they will lower operating costs and allow airlines to be more profitable.
I wouldn't put it past Airbus to do something as crazy and that.
Shoot, Qatar is awash in cash (protected by American soldiers)...I doubt they owe many people much...(except of course, unless their quarterly payment to Al Qaeda is late).
They will go to Mexico, Central or South America and fly for another twenty years. I think Mexicana is still flying some L-1011s.
We flew a DC-3 from Huatulco to Oaxaca some years ago. It was operated by "Air Liberdad." Two pilots in blue jumpsuits double timed it from the terminal, fired up the engines and we flew between the mountains up to Oaxaca. The plane was spotless white with a blue lightening bolt down the side. Needless to say, wife and I were impressed !
He-He.. Let BBBBrave french frogs to protect those pigs...
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