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23 October 2015
DOHA: Qatar Airways (QA) will receive 11 new aircraft in the next two months, including Airbus' new generation A350s, A320 Neos, Boeing 787s, and Boeing 777s.
The airline is expecting the delivery of two aircraft next week and another two will be received in December, Akbar Al Baker, QA Group Chief Executive, told reporters yesterday.
"We are the launch customer of A320 Neos, and we will be the first recipient of it. "Hopefully, we will receive them by the end of this year," he said on the sidelines of a press conference to announce the launch of Royal Air Marco's first direct flight to Doha.
Al Baker said the lower oil prices have benefitted QA over the past several months. "When oil prices were high, we were losing money, because 43 percent of our cost structure is based on fuel price. Now it has gone down to 39 percent. We hope it will add to our profitability," he said.
QA witnessed a 17 percent passenger growth, touching 24 million, for the first nine months of this year on year-on-year basis and the number is expected to hit 30 million by the year-end.
To queries about the faulty Airbus engines, Al Baker said: "Airbus will not deliver its aircraft to its customers unless it is satisfied with its engine certification.
"We have been advised by Airbus that once the engines are certified, they will deliver two aircraft this year. The exact date will be announced later."
As of now, QA fleet order include 100 Boeing 777Xs, 76 Airbus A350s, 37 Boeing 787s (including options), 14 Boeing 777s (including freighters and options), 80 Airbus A320 Neos (including options), seven Airbus A380-800s (10 firm and three options), two Airbus A320 and 10 Airbus A330 Freighters.
On the 'Big 3' US airlines' complaints against Gulf carriers' alleged unfair competitive behaviour, he said the issue is with the US administration. It is reviewing all complaints of the three US carriers and will see what is good for the American people and not for their airlines. "In fact, QA and other Gulf carriers are constantly creating more jobs for American people by ordering more aircraft and contributing to the American economy. I am sure the American administration is absolutely aware of the fact that we are creating more jobs contrary to the claims of American airlines."
"The American airlines have delivered bumper profits during the first, second and third quarters. If our expansion is affecting their operations, how come they make such huge profits?" Al Baker asked.
Earlier, to a question at the press meet whether Qatar Airways has plans for equity investment in Royal Air Maroc, Al Baker said Qatar Airways is open for investing in any potential ventures, but did not elaborate.
He said regional tensions have not affected the passenger flow. "Air traffic is always cyclical. If there is a fall in one place, there will be growth in other areas... In fact, we are expecting a continued double digit growth in our passenger flow next year."
According to data circulated at the press meet, during the 2010/11 financial year, Qatar Airways carried over 16 million passengers worldwide, hit over 17 million passengers in 2011/2012, and surpassed 18 million during the 2012/13 financial year. The airline carried over 26 million passengers in 2014/15.
Qatar Airways currently has more than 330 new aircraft worth more than $70bn pending delivery over the next few years.
DOHA: Qatar Airways (QA) will receive 11 new aircraft in the next two months, including Airbus' new generation A350s, A320 Neos, Boeing 787s, and Boeing 777s.
The airline is expecting the delivery of two aircraft next week and another two will be received in December, Akbar Al Baker, QA Group Chief Executive, told reporters yesterday.
"We are the launch customer of A320 Neos, and we will be the first recipient of it. "Hopefully, we will receive them by the end of this year," he said on the sidelines of a press conference to announce the launch of Royal Air Marco's first direct flight to Doha.
Al Baker said the lower oil prices have benefitted QA over the past several months. "When oil prices were high, we were losing money, because 43 percent of our cost structure is based on fuel price. Now it has gone down to 39 percent. We hope it will add to our profitability," he said.
QA witnessed a 17 percent passenger growth, touching 24 million, for the first nine months of this year on year-on-year basis and the number is expected to hit 30 million by the year-end.
To queries about the faulty Airbus engines, Al Baker said: "Airbus will not deliver its aircraft to its customers unless it is satisfied with its engine certification.
"We have been advised by Airbus that once the engines are certified, they will deliver two aircraft this year. The exact date will be announced later."
As of now, QA fleet order include 100 Boeing 777Xs, 76 Airbus A350s, 37 Boeing 787s (including options), 14 Boeing 777s (including freighters and options), 80 Airbus A320 Neos (including options), seven Airbus A380-800s (10 firm and three options), two Airbus A320 and 10 Airbus A330 Freighters.
On the 'Big 3' US airlines' complaints against Gulf carriers' alleged unfair competitive behaviour, he said the issue is with the US administration. It is reviewing all complaints of the three US carriers and will see what is good for the American people and not for their airlines. "In fact, QA and other Gulf carriers are constantly creating more jobs for American people by ordering more aircraft and contributing to the American economy. I am sure the American administration is absolutely aware of the fact that we are creating more jobs contrary to the claims of American airlines."
"The American airlines have delivered bumper profits during the first, second and third quarters. If our expansion is affecting their operations, how come they make such huge profits?" Al Baker asked.
Earlier, to a question at the press meet whether Qatar Airways has plans for equity investment in Royal Air Maroc, Al Baker said Qatar Airways is open for investing in any potential ventures, but did not elaborate.
He said regional tensions have not affected the passenger flow. "Air traffic is always cyclical. If there is a fall in one place, there will be growth in other areas... In fact, we are expecting a continued double digit growth in our passenger flow next year."
According to data circulated at the press meet, during the 2010/11 financial year, Qatar Airways carried over 16 million passengers worldwide, hit over 17 million passengers in 2011/2012, and surpassed 18 million during the 2012/13 financial year. The airline carried over 26 million passengers in 2014/15.
Qatar Airways currently has more than 330 new aircraft worth more than $70bn pending delivery over the next few years.
© The Peninsula 2015
