The head of Qatar Airways on Tuesday called a recent legal settlement with Airbus a "win-win" for both sides, adding he looked forward to a strong partnership with the planemaker.

"The settlement was a win-win for both of us," Chief Executive Akbar Al Baker told a news conference at the ITB tourism fair, in his first public comments on the halting of a roughly $2 billion dispute.

Airbus and Qatar Airways announced the settlement on Feb 1, averting a potentially damaging UK court trial after a bitter 18-month public feud over surface damage to A350 jets. (Reporting by Rachel More, Editing by Tim Hepher)