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Airbus got a boost for its largest twin-engined jet Tuesday when Qatar Airways said it was considering upgrading some of its A350 orders to the largest model as it took delivery of the first such plane. The A350-1000 is designed to seat 366 people and competes head-to-head with Boeing's profitable 777. The first A350-1000 was handed over to the Gulf carrier on Tuesday, joining the smaller A350-900, which has been in service for three years. Airbus says the lightweight A350-1000 is 25% more efficient than the most popular current version of the 777, the 777-300ER. But sales of the 777-300ER have picked up, and Boeing is working on plans to leapfrog the A350-1000 with an upgraded 777X boasting over 400 seats. Boeing last year sold 32 777-300ERs against just one order for the A350-1000. Some airlines have begun downgrading some A350-1000 orders to the 325-seat A350-900. Qatar Airways, which has ordered both the A350-1000 and the 777X, indicated it was moving in the opposite direction and said it could shift more of its A350 orders to the largest model. "There is a possibility that we could convert some of the 900s to the 1000," CE Akbar Al Baker said.<br/>

Qatar Airways CEO Akbar Al Baker used the handover of the Persian Gulf carrier’s newest plane to renew criticism of four other Arab states that have ostracised his country, saying the Saudi-led measures had “failed in every aspect.” The Qatari flag-carrier plans to keep adding routes and aircraft and is looking at further investments in foreign airlines -- even though it’s headed for an annual loss as a result of the trade embargo, Al Baker said. “What was achieved by our adversaries in this blockade? Zero,” the CEO said. “They failed in intimidating our country, in putting us against the wall, trying to take over our sovereignty, trying to dictate our foreign policy, trying to dictate who our friends will be.” Qatar Airways has substituted new routes for those it once flew to Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Egypt, and is coping with extended flying times from diverting around restricted airspace, Al Baker said. There are no plans to cancel aircraft orders as a result of the limitations. At the same time, Al Baker said there’s little prospect of the restrictions -- imposed on June 5 amid claims that Qatar had funded Islamist terrorism -- being lifted unless President Donald Trump leverages the “huge” US financial and military stake in the region to force a settlement. “The only progress that I see in this is President Trump coming in on the side of Qatar and making it very clear that this blockade should end,” Al Baker said. “We’re hoping that President Trump will impose enough pressure on our neighbors.” Relations between state-owned Qatar Air and the US may be improved by a concession two weeks ago that committed the carrier to increase financial transparency and desist from operating flights to America via third nations. <br/>

Qatar Airways has expressed strong interest in the potential of supersonic flight, and would even be prepared to act as a launch customer. Start-up supersonic aircraft developer Boom Aerospace has been working on a programme for a small airliner, around 45 seats, capable of speeds of M2.2. Qatar Airways CE Akbar Al Baker, speaking during the delivery of the first Airbus A350-1000, said the carrier was "very interested" in supersonic flight, and referred to private efforts to create a new supersonic transport. "Qatar would be very interested to look at [such a project]," he said. "We wouldn't hesitate to be a launch customer." But he adds that any commitment would hinge on further analysis, particularly regarding the powerplant – pointing out that an engine manufacturer has not been identified. Al Baker says, however, that once such details were clear, Qatar would be interested in a "small number" of these aircraft.<br/>