Not surprised. It is merely another chapter in the story of high-stakes sales between industry titans Airbus and Boeing. Both manufacturers and their host governments (EU and USA) play this game, despite insistence to the contrary. There are many stories like this and, unfortunately, state-owned airlines are sometimes along for the ride when political currents get involved. There is an interesting article on this in Flight Global’s blog.
#AvCablegate: US State Department swayed Gulf Air order from Airbus A350 to Boeing 787 - Flight International
Don’t get me wrong though. I think the Boeing 787, when it arrives, will be the ideal aircraft for Gulf Air and I couldn’t be more pleased that it is part of our fleet planning.
What would have been even more fascinating is if Wikileaks could have cracked files in many other countries such as certain EU and GCC countries, India, Pakistan, as well of those of the People’s Republic of China.