Originally Posted by
LandIT
In an interview with Washington Post, Qatar Airways CEO Akbar Al Baker said that the European plane maker had destroyed its business relationship with the carrier and it would be difficult to repair the frayed relationship with Airbus. “We can always let the water pass under the bridge and move on,” Al Baker said. “With Airbus, the damage is very severe. I don’t know how we will be able to work with them again,” he added.
Qatar Airways is one of Airbus’ largest customers, but the two are now in a dispute over paint and surface defects on the jets, forcing the Qatari carrier to ground at least 21 of its 53 Airbus A350s. The airline had said it has paused A350 deliveries and is planning to lease a significant number of aircraft to back up the A350s that were withdrawn from service. At least four Boeing 777s will come from Cathay Pacific Airways.
Just media posturing. All airlines play Boeing and Airbus against each other. I predict that Quatar will buy plenty more Airbus airplanes in the future, after leveraging a slightly more favorable deal.