Iver
3rd Dec 2012, 17:11
Regardless of how you feel Qatar treats its pilot group (not great - especially applicants :mad::ugh:), Qatar certainly is building an amazing fleet of aircraft if all orders/options hold together. In addition to potentially 60 787s and 10 A380s, Qatar is finalising its huge A350 order. As far as A350s are concerned, the evolving order looks like 37 -1000s and 43 -900s. Let's hope a big Bombardier C-Series deal for regional flying follows in the early part of 2013.
Story from Flightglobal:
Almost all Qatar A350-800s to become -1000s
Qatar Airways (http://www.flightglobal.com/landingpage/Qatar%20Airways.html) is to take an additional 17 Airbus (http://www.flightglobal.com/landingpage/Airbus.html) A350-1000s as part of its conversion away from the A350-800 (http://www.flightglobal.com/landingpage/Airbus%20A350-800.html).
It will swap almost all of its 20 orders for the -800 to the largest model in the A350 (http://www.flightglobal.com/landingpage/Airbus%20A350.html) family, a change brings the Middle Eastern carrier's orders to 37 -1000s.
Three remaining -800s will be converted to the A350-900 (http://www.flightglobal.com/landingpage/Airbus%20A350-900.html) taking the airline's order for the baseline variant to 43.
Qatar's overall order will remain at 80 aircraft, says Airbus, which has confirmed the change. Flightglobal had previously revealed that the carrier would take more A350-1000s as part of its defection from the -800.
"We have taken the time necessary to come to today's decision in favour of the larger A350 models, which we believe are best suited to our business model," says Qatar chief Akbar Al Baker.
Airbus chief Fabrice Bregier says: "This decision by Qatar Airways not only confirms the market trend towards larger A350s but it also demonstrates the value of offering, as we do with the A350XWB, a true family of aircraft from which our customers can select the models that best meet their individual requirements."
Qatar's decision marks the second order for the redesigned -1000, following Cathay Pacific's commitment to the type earlier this year, but provides crucial backing for the programme following Al Baker's previous criticism of the change.
Airbus's backlog for the -1000 stands, as a result of the conversion, at 105.
Story from Flightglobal:
Almost all Qatar A350-800s to become -1000s
Qatar Airways (http://www.flightglobal.com/landingpage/Qatar%20Airways.html) is to take an additional 17 Airbus (http://www.flightglobal.com/landingpage/Airbus.html) A350-1000s as part of its conversion away from the A350-800 (http://www.flightglobal.com/landingpage/Airbus%20A350-800.html).
It will swap almost all of its 20 orders for the -800 to the largest model in the A350 (http://www.flightglobal.com/landingpage/Airbus%20A350.html) family, a change brings the Middle Eastern carrier's orders to 37 -1000s.
Three remaining -800s will be converted to the A350-900 (http://www.flightglobal.com/landingpage/Airbus%20A350-900.html) taking the airline's order for the baseline variant to 43.
Qatar's overall order will remain at 80 aircraft, says Airbus, which has confirmed the change. Flightglobal had previously revealed that the carrier would take more A350-1000s as part of its defection from the -800.
"We have taken the time necessary to come to today's decision in favour of the larger A350 models, which we believe are best suited to our business model," says Qatar chief Akbar Al Baker.
Airbus chief Fabrice Bregier says: "This decision by Qatar Airways not only confirms the market trend towards larger A350s but it also demonstrates the value of offering, as we do with the A350XWB, a true family of aircraft from which our customers can select the models that best meet their individual requirements."
Qatar's decision marks the second order for the redesigned -1000, following Cathay Pacific's commitment to the type earlier this year, but provides crucial backing for the programme following Al Baker's previous criticism of the change.
Airbus's backlog for the -1000 stands, as a result of the conversion, at 105.