Qatar Airways agrees delivery delays with Airbus, still talking to Boeing

Qatar Airways has struck a deal with Airbus to delay delivery of airplanes due to the pandemic-induced travel downturn but remains in talks with Boeing about deferrals, the airline’s CE said Wednesday. “We have the ability to bring forward the deliveries if there is a rebound in air travel,” Qatar Airways CEO Akbar al-Baker said of the Airbus deal at the CAPA Australia Pacific Aviation Summit. Al-Baker said the airline had not reached an agreement with Boeing. “As far as Boeing is concerned we are still in negotiations with them, but regardless of what they feel an aircraft manufacturer needs to oblige customers in difficult times,” he said. “People who will not oblige and stand with us in this difficult time will not see us again.” Qatar Airways said in June it would not take any new planes ordered from Boeing or Airbus in 2020 or 2021, adding there would be a knock-on effect to future deliveries due to the COVID-19 pandemic.<br/>