Qatar Air says Pratt & Whitney engines not adequately tested

Qatar Airways stepped up its criticism of US engine maker Pratt & Whitney over delays and technical problems on Wednesday, saying that engines for its Airbus A320neo aircraft had not been adequately tested. Qatar Airways has refused to take the jets because of engine glitches. Last month it threatened to switch to alternative engine supplier CFM International. "I don't think this engine was tested adequately, especially for the temperatures in which Qatar Airways will operate," CE Akbar Al Baker said. "We will only accept it when we are fully satisfied that it can operate efficiently and safely at Qatar operations (and) ... once we get sufficient performance guarantees and undertakings from both Airbus and Pratt & Whitney," he told a news conference at the ITB tourism exhibition in Berlin. "We are at the threshold of the walk-away clause in our contract, but I hope we will not have to exercise this."<br/>