The FINANCIAL — Qatar Airways will defer the delivery of its Airbus A380 aircraft until it has more clarity about wing cracks on the superjumbos, according to the Mideast carrier's top executive.
"We are scheduled to get the Airbus A380 delivery in October next year but Qatar Airways will have to defer the deliveries of those airplanes until we have a very clear picture on the issues of the wing which is now in the process of modification," Akbar Al Baker, the chief executive at Qatar Airways, said at a tourism industry event in Dubai.
Middle East airlines including Qatar Airways, Dubai-based Emirates and Abu Dhabi's Etihad are among the fastest growing in the world with scores of new planes on order.
According to Borsa Italiana – London Stock Exchange Group, the airline separately said it plans to order 10 planes from Canada's Bombardier Inc. (BBD.B.T) this year at a cost of about $700 million.
"We are going to order 10 Bombardier aircraft at the cost of nearly $700 million for our corporate jet business," Akbar Al Baker said, adding more announcements will be made as more orders are expected.
When asked if Qatar Airways was looking to raise finance, Al Baker said it was currently in a cash strong position and so had no need.
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