Qatar asks Airbus to delay deliveries new jets

Qatar Airways plans to suspend the delivery of new jets from Airbus and Boeing until post-coronavirus travel demand returns to normal – a state which its CEO doesn’t expect to see until at least 2022.

Qatar will not be able to pay for the aircraft that it had previously ordered from Airbus and Boeing, with tens of billions of dollars.

The Qatar Airways had signed a letter of intent to purchase 60 737 MAX planes, but after the demand for air travel fell, the company said: There is no way to add new aircraft, and it will reduce its fleet of about 200 aircraft.

The company intends to keep 20 percent of its fleet out of service in the near future, and does not expect to operate flights to all destinations that were flying to it before the crisis of Corona, and the number of 165 until 2023.

Qatar Airways CEO Akbar Al-Baker on Tuesday asked Airbus and Boeing to postpone the delivery of the aircraft because of Qatar’s inability to pay the agreed price.

Aviation financiers said: The manufacturers have the upper hand in such talks because the contracts are binding, and they have the right to agree to postponement or rejection.

Al Baker said: The company will sell the five aircraft that were delivered, wishing the manufacturers would agree to delay the contracts of the aircraft that were not delivered.