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The head of Qatar Airways firmly denied that the company delayed a deal to buy up to 100 jetliners from The Boeing Co. to pressure the U.S. to approve the sale of fighter jets to Qatar. The comments from Akbar Al Baker came Friday during a news conference in D.C. in which state-owned Qatar Airlines and Boeing inked an $18.6 billion deal for 30 Dreamliners and up to 80 other jets. "We don’t relate anything to anything,” Al Baker said when asked by a reporter about possible connection. "Qatar Airways has this independent policy ordering airplanes. So nothing is attached...

Here at the world's busiest airport -- with seven concourses and more than 200 gates -- a gate for the Super Jumbo Airbus A380 could not be provided. That forced Qatar Airways passengers to deplane Wednesday via mobile stairs and shuttle buses. Atlanta's airport has only one gate that can accommodate the A380 -- the world's largest airliner. The airport and resident hub carrier Delta Air Lines said they could not make that gate available. The very public battle between Delta Air Lines, the world's second largest airline, and competitor Qatar Airways represents a microcosm of the national debate over...

<p>MILAN (AP) — Foreign ministry officials in Rome and Vienna confirm that names of two nationals listed on the manifest of the missing Malaysian airlines flight match passports reported stolen in Thailand.</p> <p>Italy's Foreign Ministry said Saturday that an Italian man whose name was listed as being aboard is traveling in Thailand and was not aboard the plane.</p>

Qatar Airways may cancel Dreamliner order, warns CEO Carrier may have ‘no alternative’ but to cancel orders if there are fresh delays, says Al Baker By Ed Attwood Sunday, 19 December 2010 Qatar Airways CEO Akbar Al Baker has said he may have no alternative but to cancel orders for the troubled Boeing 787 Dreamliner if there are further delays in its delivery. The fast-growing airline has ordered 30 787s, plus 30 more as an option, although technical and labour problems with the ultra-modern part-composite aircraft has left the jet nearly three years behind its original schedule. “We are still...

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...

NEW DELHI: SNIPPET: "The US national, identified as Winston Marshal Carmichael, was detained late last night after CISF personnel found knife in his hand baggage during the security check when he was to leave for Doha in a Qatar Airways flight, official sources said. ( Watch Video ) Reminiscent of the case of terror suspect David Headley, arrested in Chicago in October last for allegedly plotting terror strikes in India, Carmichael is a convert from Christianity to Islam. The New York resident changed his religion some 40 years ago. Carmichael, who was flying to Doha in a Qatar Airways flight,...

Emirates and Qatar Airways the two fast-growing Gulf-based carriers are set to announce a number of firm orders that could add up to somewhere between 100 to 120 aircraft, aviation officials said. The announcement will be made at the forthcoming Paris Air Show to be held from June 13 to 19, according to a Gulf News report from Tokyo. While Emirates is set to order a combination of A350s and Boeing's ultra-long range B777-200LRs, Qatar Airways is set to order as many as 50 to 60 B787s. Following Emirates' recent revelation, Qatar Airways is also set to sign a major...

Egyptian authorities have arrested a Kuwaiti passenger on board a Qatar Airways flight that made an emergency landing in Cairo after he attempted to hijack the plane, an airline official said. Airline spokeswoman Salam al-Shawa said the man had no sharp objects but had caused a disturbance on flight 553 to Doha from Casablanca when he wanted to overtake the flight. "One of the passengers caused trouble as he wanted to enter the cabin and change the route," Ms Shawa said. "The pilot refused and landed in Cairo. He is a Kuwaiti national and he is under the custody of...

Qatar Airways to launch first commercial air services into Basra, Iraq Qatar Airways will become the first airline to operate commercial air services into Iraq in 12 years, when it begins two weekly flights into the southern Iraqi city of Basra from June 10. The first flight to Basra will carry much needed human and medical aid, a grant from the people of Qatar. "We initially expect the flights to Basra will serve the international aid community," said Qatar Airways Chief Executive Officer Akbar Al-Baker. Qatar Airways has proved itself to be one of the fastest growing airlines in...