FARNBOROUGH: Qatar Airways is demanding compensation from Airbus for failing to deliver its A380 aircraft on time, the airline’s boss said yesterday, calling the delay “absolutely disappointing”.
The first of 13 A380 superjumbos ordered by Qatar was scheduled to be delivered in May and exhibited during the industry’s key trade show at Farnborough in Britain.
“There are issues with the interior and exterior of the airplane,” said Akbar al Baker, the airline’s chief executive, elaborating on the reasons for the delay.
“We are a very demanding customer, we want everything to be absolutely perfect. It is absolutely disappointing to Qatar Airways.”
Al Baker said the airline is seeking compensation for the loss in earnings caused by the delayed delivery, but would not go into details of the sum sought.
The Gulf carrier is one of Airbus’s biggest clients.
Ahead of the Farnborough airshow, it signalled its interest in ordering several additional A380 superjumbos and A330 mid-size widebody aircraft. AFP
DOHA: Qatar Airways has bagged three awards at the annual Skytrax World Airline Awards, including winning World’s Best Business Class for the second year in a row. Qatar Airways was also voted runner-up in the Airline of the Year category.
Qatar Airways won World’s Best Business Class award, which it has now won three times and two years consecutively, Best Airline in the Middle East for the eighth time and Best Business Class Airline Lounge for the second time consecutively.
Commenting on the awards the CEO of Qatar Airways, Akbar Al Baker said “Qatar Airways is focused on providing the best quality product and service for our passengers, and we are very proud to have Skytrax recognise our airline, our people and our products via these awards. We strive to set the highest standards in the global airline industry and our young fleet helps us deliver the finest five-star service in the sky”. Skytrax is acknowledged around the world as independent aviation industry monitor. The Peninsula
