Qatar Airways - Big Plans

[Kurt A]

QATAR Airways has announced aggressive expansion plans over the next few years highlighting orders for more than 200 aircraft worth over US$30 billion. Chief Executive Officer Akbar Al Baker told media yesterday at the Arabian Travel Mart that the carrier was pursuing its growth strategy on the back of the huge infrastructure development projects in Qatar.

Deliveries begin this summer with the third Boeing 777 joining the carrier's 62-strong fleet. With orders including 80 of Airbus' new-generation A350s, five twindeck A380s, 60 787 Dreamliners and 30 Boeing 777s, the CEO said the fleet expansion would take it well into the next decade.

Al Bakar said the airline is seeking compensation for the Dreamliner delay from the US planemaker. "We've not been given a firm delivery date but the first 787 was due at the end of 2010 and we've been told it will be about 12 months late." He said they would firm up optional orders for the Boeing 777 aircraft to compensate for the delay.

He added he has not received any letter from Airbus on the delay of the A380 for which it has on order and may place more. "We're looking at ordering more A380s if our expansion plans go well," al-Baker said.

-td