Bloomberg reported, citing informed sources, that Qatar Airways is close to making a decision on a large order for wide-body aircraft from Boeing and Airbus.
The report said that the company is looking to order about 200 aircraft, and is considering a mix of Airbus A350S and Boeing 777X models, with a decision likely to be made in conjunction with the Farnborough Air Show in Britain late next month.
Airbus said that it is always in talks with customers about their needs, but did not reveal any details, while Boeing attributed the matter to Qatar Airways when it was asked to comment.
Bloomberg reported in March that Qatar Airways was in early talks with Boeing and Airbus to order between 100 and 150 wide-body aircraft to expand and renew its fleet.
An order of this size comes after large purchases by its regional competitor, Emirates Airlines, which is also working to expand its fleet by adding more Boeing 777X aircraft.
Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia’s Riyadh Airlines is seeking to establish itself as a new force in the Middle East, putting pressure on the likes of Qatar Airways to maintain its growth trajectory and keep its fleet fresh.
Qatar Airways currently has 74 pending orders for Boeing 777X aircraft and 18 larger Airbus A350-1000 aircraft, according to data from both manufacturers.
The new order from Airbus would represent a new chapter in the European manufacturer’s relationship with one of its most important customers, following a painful legal battle over peeling paint on the carrier’s Airbus A350 aircraft. This dispute was settled in early 2023.
