Qatar Airways chief wants to expand fleet, look for US investments

Qatar Airways CE Akbar Al Baker said Monday the carrier plans to expand its fleet, stepping up orders for Boeing aircraft and accepting four Airbus aircraft that it had cancelled in July because of delays due to supplier problems. Al Baker, who spoke at an event in which he formally accepted delivery of Qatar Airways’ first Boeing 747-8 freighter, disclosed plans to acquire the four 777-300 aircraft, which can accommodate up to 396 passengers depending on the seating configuration. In addition, Qatar Airways will order all 60 of the Boeing 737 airplanes for which it signed a letter of intent last year, he said. Al Baker said that all of Qatar’s options and purchase rights for the narrowbody jets “will be exercised.” In June, Qatar Airways confirmed an order for 20 Boeing 737 jets and said at the time it was waiting on next steps in its possible expansions in Italy and India before deciding whether to exercise further options. Al Baker said the plan to take the four Airbus planes “is definite.” He added he will be “concluding an agreement shortly, for which I will be flying to Toulouse from here,” referring to the Airbus site.<br/>