LE BOURGET, France, 20 June 2003 — Qatar Airways gave Airbus a lift yesterday, with the European consortium announcing the sale of 18 aircraft and an option for 14 others in what was described as the largest deal in the carrier’s history.
“This transaction, which is the largest in the history of the company (Qatar Airways), covers the purchase of two Airbus A321s, eight A330-200s, six A330-300s and two A340-600s,” Airbus said in a statement at the Paris Air Show. “This is the largest order my airline has made. This is a significant investment in the airline’s future,” said Qatar Airways President Akbar Al-Baker.
In addition, Qatar Airways has taken an option to acquire six long-haul A330s and eight A340-600s, Airbus said.
The value of the firm orders was put at $2.6 billion (2.2 billion euros) and at $5.13 billion when the options are included, according to Airbus. The carrier also is to lease two A330-200 aircraft.
Airbus further announced it would deliver two A380 superjumbo passenger planes to Qatar Airways in early 2009 under terms of a previous accord. The catalog price for the A380 is $275 million. Airbus now has 129 orders and purchasing agreements for the superjumbo A380, a double-decker plane that would be capable of carrying more than 500 passengers, from 11 clients.
Airbus expects to invest 10.7 billion euros in the development of the A380, which is to make its first flight in 2005. The A380 program was launched in 2000.
The Airbus communique was issued here as the emir of Qatar, Sheikh Hamad ibn Kalifa Al-Thani, met with President Jacques Chirac in Paris. Qatar Airways was launched in 1994 and uses only Airbus aircraft.
Its current fleet of 24 planes would grow to 56 if all options are exercised.
“The agreement will allow us to expand our operations beyond Europe, North Africa, the Middle East, the Indian subcontinent and the Far East,” Al-Baker told a news conference at Le Bourget airport, north of Paris.
“We will have the capacity to operate non-stop flights to the United States and of course other destinations.” The A330s are to be powered by General Electric engines, Airbus said. Airbus Chief Executive Noel Forgeard said other, smaller orders might also be announced before the air show ends on Sunday. Last Monday, Airbus announced a mega order from the Dubai-based carrier Emirates, comprising 21 of the new super-jumbo A380s, two A340-500s and 18 A340-600s worth about $12.5 billion in all.
