Boeing Dreamliner 'a failure', says Qatar Airways boss

[Richard from Rotterdam]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-11842597


25 November 2010 Last updated at 20:15 GMT

Boeing Dreamliner 'a failure', says Qatar Airways boss


The chief executive of Qatar Airways has criticised Boeing over delays to the 787 Dreamliner, reportedly saying that it has "clearly failed".

Akbar Al Baker said he had been "taken aback" by the problems that have plagued the delivery of the aircraft, the Reuters news agency reported.

Meanwhile, Boeing has announced it is revising its schedule after a fire on a test flight earlier this month.

It had hoped to begin delivering the plane at the start of next year.

'Foreign debris'
Production of 787s is about three years behind schedule, with delays mainly a result of the supply and fitting of parts.

A test flight had to be aborted on 9 November after a fire broke out on board. Boeing has blamed a piece of "foreign debris" in a power panel.

Qatar Airways has ordered a minimum of 30 Dreamliners, with the first due to be delivered in the last quarter of next year.


Mr Al Baker was also dismissive of the Bombardier C-Series planes
Speaking at a news conference in Paris, Mr Al Baker said he had not expected such delays from Boeing, because the US-based company had "pride in its quality".

"They have very clearly failed," he added.

He added that Qatar Airways was considering buying more Airbus A380s on top of the five already ordered from Boeing's arch-rival.

Mr Al Baker was also critical of Bombardier of Canada, which has been trying to break Boeing's and Airbus' stranglehold of the airliner production business.

He said Qatar Airways had been forced to cancel a planned order for the company's C-Series planes in July over concerns about their engines.

"If they do not roll up their sleeves pretty fast then the [new Airbus A320] NEO will eclipse them," he warned.

[Stratofreighter]

Well, mr. Akbar Al Baker has obviously vented his huge frustrations over the delays piling up, but the Dreamliner isn't a failure (yet)...

[SquAdmin]

He never called the Dreamliner a failure, he only said that Boeing has failed.

[Alpha Kilo One]

Funny to see, that if there is something (whatever ...) wrong with Airbus, media is more than keen to jump on the news.
Why doesn't someone jump on this one ?

Ronald

[ehusmann]

If you refer to the engine problems of the A380, I think that is not on par with these comments of a customer. But if the comments will keep coming the way the are coming now, things will probably change. After Qatar's comments, two more have been made in the media:
ANA CEO has called the B787 "a great disappointment"
China Eastern is negotiating a cancellation

That cannot be good, question is if these are somehow single 'incidents' or if this is the beginning of a trend.

Erwin

[Starbucks]

Would be funny if Qatar receives it's A350's earlier that it's 787's :p

[ Post made via Mobile Device ]

[Starbucks]

Funny to see, that if there is something (whatever ...) wrong with Airbus, media is more than keen to jump on the news.
Why doesn't someone jump on this one ?

Ronald

When the 787 fire occured the media was all over it as well.

[ Post made via Mobile Device ]