Qatar Airways said it was not hopeful it would get all 12 A350 planes it is supposed to receive this year from Airbus after supply chain problems hit deliveries of the wide-body jet. “That’s why we ordered Boeing, which we will start getting next year, to fill the gap with the Airbus deliveries,” CE Akbar Al Baker said, referring to an order placed earlier this month for up to 100 Boeing jets. Qatar Airways has received 4 of the jets so far. The plane maker said Wednesday it was “working towards” meeting its target of more than 50 A350 deliveries in 2016. Al Baker also said he would continue to keep exercising cancellation clauses on deliveries of A320neo jets after engine problems. Pratt & Whitney has started shipping engines with modifications, but Al Baker said he wanted to see the engines in operation for a year or two first. <br/>
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Qantas has been rebranded and its famous kangaroo icon has been redrawn as a simplified silhouette with no arms. Designer Marc Newson has led the project working alongside Australian consultancy Houston Group. Newson, who has previously designed Qantas airport lounges and its A380 aircraft cabin, says that the redesign “aims to retain the fundamental essence of the flying kangaroo but also move the brand forward.” The new kangaroo can also be found on engine cowls in an effort to make it more prominent and identifiable. It is only the fifth time the kangaroo has been updated since it was introduced in 1944. The last update was in 2007 when the Airbus 380 came into service. The new look is rolling out as an aircraft livery as well as across digital assets, signage and ads. <br/>
Qantas is quietly lifting the amount it slugs passengers for excess baggage by 75%. The airline has been charging passengers who exceed their checked baggage allowance A$40 for their first extra piece of luggage and $60 for each subsequent piece. But Friday, Qantas will increase that to $70 for the first excess piece of luggage – a 75% increase – and $90 for each additional piece. The "heavy charge" that is levied for single items weighing over 23 kilograms has jumped from $30 to $50 and pre-purchasing an extra piece of luggage on domestic flights has been increased from $30 to $35. The new excess baggage fees bring Qantas into line with its major domestic competitor, Virgin Australia. Charges for additional and excess baggage on international flights have not changed. <br/>
Finnair will suspend or cancel services on two Asian routes as it seeks to accommodate pilot training for its new Airbus A350s. The carrier plans to halt flights between Helsinki and Chongqing, China, from Jan 11 to May 2, 2017 as it ramps up its A350 fleet, which will become the carrier’s main long-haul aircraft. This requires A350 training for Finnair’s existing pool of A330 pilots. Training takes the flight deck crew away from normal duties, which puts a temporary strain on Finnair’s pilot resources. Some flights from Helsinki to Nagoya, Japan, will also be canceled in spring 2017. Finnair was the European launch customer for the A350 and will have 6 in service by the end of 2016. Other measures include a 2-month wet lease on Finnair’s Helsinki-New York JFK route. <br/>