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.

FMI: www.qatarairways.com/us/en/