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Boeing Dreamliner 'a failure', says Qatar Airways boss
BBC News ^ | 25 November 2010

Posted on 11/29/2010 6:32:17 AM PST by sukhoi-30mki

Boeing Dreamliner 'a failure', says Qatar Airways boss

The chief executive of Qatar Airways has criticised Boeing over delays to the 787 Dreamliner, reportedly saying that it has "clearly failed".

Akbar Al Baker said he had been "taken aback" by the problems that have plagued the delivery of the aircraft, the Reuters news agency reported.

Meanwhile, Boeing has announced it is revising its schedule after a fire on a test flight earlier this month.

It had hoped to begin delivering the plane at the start of next year.

'Foreign debris'

Production of 787s is about three years behind schedule, with delays mainly a result of the supply and fitting of parts.

A test flight had to be aborted on 9 November after a fire broke out on board. Boeing has blamed a piece of "foreign debris" in a power panel.

Qatar Airways has ordered a minimum of 30 Dreamliners, with the first due to be delivered in the last quarter of next year.

Speaking at a news conference in Paris, Mr Al Baker said he had not expected such delays from Boeing, because the US-based company had "pride in its quality".

"They have very clearly failed," he added.

He added that Qatar Airways was considering buying more Airbus A380s on top of the five already ordered from Boeing's arch-rival.

Mr Al Baker was also critical of Bombardier of Canada, which has been trying to break Boeing's and Airbus' stranglehold of the airliner production business.

He said Qatar Airways had been forced to cancel a planned order for the company's C-Series planes in July over concerns about their engines.

"If they do not roll up their sleeves pretty fast then the [new Airbus A320] NEO will eclipse

(Excerpt) Read more at bbc.co.uk ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: aerospace; boeing; qatar; qatarairways
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Mr Al Baker was also dismissive of the Bombardier C-Series planes


1 posted on 11/29/2010 6:32:24 AM PST by sukhoi-30mki
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To: sukhoi-30mki

Have you seen the commemorative stamps “Qatar, leader in aviation technology?”

....you never will.


2 posted on 11/29/2010 6:35:36 AM PST by PATRIOT1876 (Language, Borders, Culture, Full employment for those here legally)
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To: PATRIOT1876

The Air Force should look at this information when considering the bids on the new Refueling Tanker.


3 posted on 11/29/2010 6:37:25 AM PST by Old Retired Army Guy (tHE)
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To: sukhoi-30mki

Qatar Air is a great airlines, one of the top five in the world.
They are without a doubt, the only way to fly from Europe to the Philippines.
I have made the trip twice from Vienna.
One can fly from most any large city in Europe, direct to Cebu, with only a plane change in Doha.
For about 20 bucks, you can get into the first class lounge in Doha, and get all you can drink and eat, as well as WiFi, while you wait for the continuation on to Cebu.


4 posted on 11/29/2010 6:42:06 AM PST by AlexW
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To: sukhoi-30mki

Since all new aircraft are designed on computers, how could they have problems fitting parts?


5 posted on 11/29/2010 6:42:31 AM PST by wastedyears (It has nothing to do with safety, and everything to do with control.)
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To: sukhoi-30mki

Al Baker is maneuvering for a discount.


6 posted on 11/29/2010 6:42:49 AM PST by DManA
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To: sukhoi-30mki

This is standard procedure by airlines in order to extract even further concessions on top of what they have already likely received.


7 posted on 11/29/2010 6:42:58 AM PST by GnL
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To: sukhoi-30mki
It is never good when your customer starts talking about you using the word failure.

On the other hand I don't get the A380 -vs- Dreamliner thing. The two planes don't appear to be competitors based on passenger capacity. They don't appear to be competing for the same routes. If you can fill an A380 then you shouldn't be running a Dreamliner. But if you have a Dreamliner's passengers in the seats of an A380 you are going to lose money every time the wheels come of the ground.
8 posted on 11/29/2010 6:44:09 AM PST by GonzoGOP (There are millions of paranoid people in the world and they are all out to get me.)
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To: sukhoi-30mki

Qatar is an Airbus investor.

Al Bakar has done a good job with Qatar Airways, I have to admit, but his assessment of the 787 is way off the mark. I think he is spreading FUD to enhance the value of their HUGE A350 order.


9 posted on 11/29/2010 6:44:33 AM PST by John Valentine
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To: sukhoi-30mki

Hmmmm...I don’t seem to recall any stories about Dreamliner engines blowing up in flight.


10 posted on 11/29/2010 6:45:40 AM PST by OCCASparky (Obama--Playing a West Wing fantasy in a '24' world.)
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To: wastedyears
Since all new aircraft are designed on computers, how could they have problems fitting parts?

Build different pieces of the aircraft all over the world. That idea has been a failure.

11 posted on 11/29/2010 6:47:42 AM PST by Moonman62 (Half of all Americans are above average.)
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To: GonzoGOP

The Airbus competitor for the 787 is NOT the A380, it is the A350. Qatar Airways has ordered 80 of them


12 posted on 11/29/2010 6:48:21 AM PST by John Valentine
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To: GonzoGOP
On the other hand I don't get the A380 -vs- Dreamliner thing.

Each aircraft is a showcase for their respective companies, even though they are for very different markets. I think when all is said and done, the 787 will be the far more successful aircraft, though both have had major development problems.

13 posted on 11/29/2010 6:50:16 AM PST by Moonman62 (Half of all Americans are above average.)
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To: Moonman62
You got it.

"mainly a result of the supply and fitting of parts"

The management fad known as outsourcing is responsible.

The conceit is that they think they can manage a global supply chain, and not have to do the dirty work of designing and making their own parts. The "virtual company".

But it's a mirage, and just an excuse to not do any real value added work.

And this is the result: crap that breaks, the suppliers control your schedule, and incompatibilities that take forever to fix.

When they start building their own equipment again, and keep people who can do that, this won't happen.

Until then, it'll just be the slow road to oblivion.

14 posted on 11/29/2010 6:55:29 AM PST by Regulator (Watch Out! Americans are on the March! America Forever, Mexico Never!)
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To: AlexW
AlexW, I couldn't agree more. Qatar has become my default airlines for business trips between Manila and Europe.

Although I fly business class, I normally take a few walk-arounds during the flight and found economy to be nice as well. Service, on-board entertainment and food have always been good.

15 posted on 11/29/2010 6:55:47 AM PST by ut1992 (Army Brat)
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To: Moonman62

Absolutely right. A company that outsources its core functions - and I think that one could safely call building fuselages a traditional “core function” at Boeing - is cutting its throat.


16 posted on 11/29/2010 6:56:43 AM PST by Notary Sojac (I've been ionized, but I'm okay now.)
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To: wastedyears

The panels are hand laid, basically. At each joint, they must transfer stress to the next joint. Each is made with just the right amount of fiber and plastic. If they don’t fit you can’t just whip out a grinder and grind away.

It’s figured out already, technically. It is just that there there is an artisan/learning curb that subcontractors have to work at.


17 posted on 11/29/2010 6:56:59 AM PST by Leisler (They always lie, and have for so much and for so long, that they no longer know what about.)
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To: OCCASparky
Hmmmm...I don’t seem to recall any stories about Dreamliner engines blowing up in flight.

Not yet.

Boeing delays 787 Dreamliner again after test engine breaks apart

Loss of thrust diverts Boeing 787 to Moses Lake

Boeing 787 Suffers Engine Surge During Tests

18 posted on 11/29/2010 7:00:54 AM PST by A.A. Cunningham (Barry Soetoro is a Kenyan communist)
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To: John Valentine
The Airbus competitor for the 787 is NOT the A380, it is the A350. Qatar Airways has ordered 80 of them

That's what I thought. There was a line in the story that Qatar Air was going to buy A380s because of the delays in the 787. I could see them buying Airbus products if the 787s can't get delivered, but not the A380. At least not for the same routes.
19 posted on 11/29/2010 7:01:00 AM PST by GonzoGOP (There are millions of paranoid people in the world and they are all out to get me.)
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To: sukhoi-30mki

BBC headline seems very misleading. Baker certainly did not say that the 787 itself is a failure.


20 posted on 11/29/2010 7:01:20 AM PST by ltc8k6
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