Tue, Nov 30, 2010
Questions Bombardier As Well, Says More Business May Go To
Airbus
The CEO of Qatar Airways said delays in Boeing's Dreamliner and
questions about the Pratt & Whitney engines being developed for
the Bombardier C-Series have him leaning towards Airbus as the
airline looks at rapid growth in the coming years.
With the 787 already three years behind schedule, and and added
uncertainty following an electrical fire aboard one of the flight
test airplanes, Qatar Airways CEO Akbar Al Baker said during a
recent news conference that Boeing had "very clearly failed" in the
development of the Dreamliner. But, he said, if Airbus winds up
delaying the A350 XWB, Boeing would still have time to recover.
Reuters reports that in 2006, Al Baker had been critical of
Airbus for delays in its A380 program, but that he is considering
adding to the five superjumbo jets the airline currently has on
order. He said the recent Trent 900 engine issue would not affect
the decision as to which engine is used on Qatar's A380s. He added
that if Bombardier does not increase the pace on development of the
C-Series, the re-engined A320 would "eclipse" the Canadian
aircraft. Bombardier has said it is satisfied with the engine
development of the C-Series.
Al Baker's remarks come against a backdrop of what most analysts
see as a potential boom in the airline industry in the middle east.
Reuters indicates that U.S. and European airlines have expressed
concerns about certain export rules that give a perceived advantage
to mid-east airlines when they buy Boeing or Airbus products. A
group of airlines from the Gulf region said it would be willing to
level the playing field for export loans, adding that traditional
airlines would still have difficulty competing even if they were
granted the additional assistance.
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