Qatar Airways is waiting for Airbus to firm up the specification of the A350 before completing its evaluation of the new family against the Boeing 7E7.
The airline has a requirement for up to 60 aircraft, including options, and has been in ongoing talks with both manufacturers about becoming a launch customer for one of the new long-range twinjets. Although it is an all-Airbus operator, Qatar Airways has emerged as the leading candidate to provide Boeing with its launch order for the stretched 260-seat 7E7-9 version. Airbus, meanwhile, is aggressively campaigning at the airline with its new A350 twinjet, which would offer a high level of commonality with Qatar's existing A330 fleet.
"We are still talking to both companies, but cannot make a decision until Airbus firms up the A350 specification," Qatar Airways chief executive Akbar Al Baker told Flight International at the A380 "reveal" ceremony in Toulouse last week. He adds that the evaluation of the competing aircraft should be completed in time for an order announcement at, or before, the Paris air show in June.
Source: Flight International
