AIR Airbus SE

By Robert Wall

LONDON--Qatar Airways Chief Executive Akbar Al Baker said Tuesday that his airline may acquire more A350 long-range aircraft from Airbus.

Qatar Airways is the biggest customer of the Airbus twin-engine long-haul plane and on Tuesday took delivery of the first ever A350-1000, the largest version of the aircraft. Mr. Al Baker said at the event that the airline may buy more A350 models for its leasing arm and for airlines in which Qatar Airways has invested.

Qatar Airways previously had ordered 39 A350-900 planes and 37 of the larger -1000 aircraft. Mr. Al Baker did not say how many more planes he might buy.

He also told reporters the airline could swap some of its orders for the smaller version to the larger plane, with a decision likely to be taken soon.

Qatar Airways expects to receive six A350-1000s from Airbus this year. The first model is due to enter service on Saturday on the route between Doha and London. U.S. destinations on the east coast could see a service with the aircraft later.

Mr. Al Baker, who at times has considered buying the CSeries narrowbody airliner made by Canadian plane maker Bombardier Inc., said he had no interest, for now, in purchasing that jet.

He said, though, that he could see Qatar Airways becoming the launch customer for a supersonic passenger plane once such a design becomes available.

Write to Robert Wall at robert.wall@wsj.com

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

February 20, 2018 08:42 ET (13:42 GMT)

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