Qatar Airways seeks A321neos for A320neos in swap deal

Qatar Airways is to swap its order for up to 80 Airbus A320neos for the larger, longer-range A321 version, the airline’s CE said Thursday. The carrier has refused to take delivery of A320neos since Dec 2015 over performance issues with the aircraft’s engines. The airline is also deciding whether to switch the engine order for the narrow-body jets from Pratt & Whitney to CFM. Qatar Airways has refused to accept A320neos powered by Pratt & Whitney engines because they require additional time to start under certain conditions. The airline said in May it was cutting frequencies on more than a dozen routes from its Doha hub because of delays in acquiring new aircraft from Airbus. Airbus’s delivery schedule saw delays through 2016, in part because of problems with engine and cabin parts suppliers. <br/>