The ever-controversial CEO of Qatar Airways, Akbar al Baker, has underlined his displeasure with Airbus and has indicated that he intends to choose Boeing for a new freighter.
The Arab carrier has been the most outspoken in complaints about paint-related problems with Airbus A350 aircraft, although other airlines have also come forward. As Reuters showed this week, the corrosion is not just an esthetic issue, but actually leaves the part of the carbon fiber structure of which the fuselage is evident.
There is still no consensus on the safety risk, but Qatar CEO Akbar al Baker said the problem was so severe (to the point of having 20 aircraft out of service) that it caused the company to abandon buying more A350 aircraft, including freighters. Airbus recently announced that it is developing the A350F version.
In his speech at the British Aviation Club, one of the most traditional in the world and which always organizes events with major industry figures, al Baker stated that the A350’s current problems «close the door to order for the freighter version.»
Journalist Jonathan Robins of the consulting firm Cirium, a partner of AEROIN, who was present at the event, al Baker also hinted at a possible order for 50 cargo jets, which could go to the Boeing 777XF, as soon as it is officially launched.
– On A350 issue Airbus: "acknowledge that they are working to find a solution, which means they don’t have a solution, and they don't have a solution because they don’t know why it is happening"
– Boeing's problems with the 787 are "dwarfed" by that at the A350— Jonathan Robins (@jrobinsuk) November 30, 2021
Even this order could be placed this year and did not take place at the Dubai Air Show due to Boeing’s failure to launch the freighter version of the 777X at the event.
Qatar’s interest in a 777X or A350 freighter is not recent, but the carrier has also been critical of Boeing for delays on the 787 and passenger 777X, for which it has a large order for 60 aircraft.
See also: «Five airlines join Qatar’s complaint about A350 problems».
