Air Italy ditches planned 787s for A330s

Air Italy plans a modest increase in its number of long-haul Airbus A330s, rather than taking on Boeing 787-8s, because of delays in delivering new aircraft to its minority shareholder, Qatar Airways. Qatar Airways has a 49% stake in Air Italy and has been infusing the company with Airbus A330-200s from its own fleet, replacing elderly Boeing 767-300ERs. The A330-200s were, in turn, scheduled to be replaced by Boeing 787-8s from Qatar Airways’ fleet as the Arab carrier took newer 787-9s on charge. However, delays to the arrival of the 787-9s mean these plans have changed. “As we have stated before, Qatar Airways’ Boeing 787-9s are delayed, which means we cannot for the moment take delivery of our leased Boeing 787-8 aircraft from Qatar Airways Group,” an Air Italy spokesperson said Tuesday. <br/>