Qatar Airways to receive six Boeing 787s in 2011

After facing several delays, Qatar Airways will finally receive the first six Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft in September next year, according the airline's chief executive.

"We will be receiving six 787s by next year. Initially we were supposed to receive only two of the Dreamliners," said Akbar Al Baker, CEO, Qatar Airways. He added that the airline is being offered more number of planes by Boeing now.

"It means our pressure on Boeing is working," Al Baker pointed out.

"We are about to sign off the final cabin configurations for the 787s." The Doha-based carrier almost cancelled its order for the 60 Dreamliners (30 firm aircraft orders and 30 on options) due to multiple delays by Boeing. The delays had prompted Al Baker earlier this year to issue an ultimatum to Boeing where he threatened to cancel orders in case any further delays.

He told Emirates Business in January this year: "There was a deadline and they [Boeing] have obliged. And we are now back on track with them".

Originally meant to fly in August 2007 and reach customers in May 2008, the US plane manufacturer delayed the plane five times because of unexpected hurdles with new composite plastics and an outsourced supply chain that stretched to 135 sites around the world. It, however, was then successful in making the 787's first test flight in December last year.

Qatar Airways is further venturing into hotels with its flagship hotel due to open doors by end-June this year, according to Al Baker.

"Called Oryx Rotana, the hotel would be managed by Rotana, and it would be a 400-room five-star hotel," he pointed out.

Due to launch three new routes next month – Barcelona, Sao Paulo and Buenos Aires – Qatar Airways is also looking to start operations into Iraq shortly, according to Al Baker.

"We will operate into Iraq. We already have the rights for operating to three destinations in Iraq," he said, without divulging any timeline to begin operations.

When quizzed on the airline's progress on its plans of launching a budget carrier, Al Baker said: "My answer remains the same. "We would only launch a budget carrier if our marketshare is eroded."

He added that Qatar Airways "already has a name, a logo and an aircraft ready" for the budget carrier if there is a need to launch one. "We have also already internationally registered it," Al Baker said. "Though, I hope we don't have to launch it."

TARGETS

Qatar Airways aims have a network of 120 destinations and an equal number of aircraft in three years, CEO Akbar Al Baker said, adding that the airline currently flies to 89 destinations with a fleet of 82 aircraft.

IN TALKS WITH BOMBARDIER

Qatar Airways is in talks with Canadian jet manufacturer Bombardier for up to 30 C-Series jets for its corporate jets company, Qatar Executive.

"We hope to conclude a deal by the end of July this year. We are now talking to just Bombardier for 20 to 30 jets," said CEO Akbar Al Baker.