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| Al-Baker in the cockpit of a Boeing 787 Dreamliner during a demonstration flight yesterday. PICTURES: Jayan Orma |
Qatar Airways will have delivery of its first Boeing 787 Dreamliner in June 2012, airline chief executive officer (CEO) Akbar al-Baker has said.
The national carrier has placed firm orders for 30 Dreamliners at $6bn in list price, al-Baker told Gulf Times onboard Boeing’s 787 Dreamliner demonstration flight
yesterday.
“We have an option for another 30 787 Dreamliners,” al-Baker said, adding that the delivery of the entire 30 Dreamliners to Qatar Airways will be over a four-year period.
Qatar Airways CEO said the airline would be the first airline in the Middle East to operate a Boeing 787 Dreamliner.
“Also most probably, I think we will be the first airliner to operate a 787 into Europe. We are more aggressive than our competition when it comes to deploying new products, and of course, new aircraft into our fleet.
“This is a big pride for us to showcase a Boeing 787 Dreamliner on our national day. Boeing did a lot of effort to bring this aircraft to Qatar on this very important day,”
al-Baker said.
He said the Boeing 787 Dreamliner “has nearly 22% less fuel consumption” than its class of aircraft.
“So, we will be able to go at a longer range. This is a completely electric aeroplane and so it does not get any bleed from the engines, which makes it more efficient. It has also a lower cabin altitude. So, you don’t get dry skin, and you arrive at your destination
fresher.”
Asked what routes Qatar Airways was looking at to operate the Boeing 787 Dreamliner, al-Baker said: “We are looking at both long range and mid-range to Europe and beyond, in this aircraft.”
The Qatar Airways CEO said Japan’s ANA, which was the launch customer for Boeing 787 Dreamliner, had been operating the aeroplane very successfully.
“I am really surprised that they do not have any kind of teething problems that a new aeroplane would have. So, it shows Boeing has really tested this aircraft very thoroughly before they introduced it into service, especially as it is a very new technology aeroplane.”
Al-Baker said no new facilities will have to be created in Doha to handle Boeing 787 Dreamliner.
“This is like any other aeroplane. If you start creating special facilities for an aeroplane, then it becomes very cost-ineffective for us to buy such an aircraft.”
On Qatar Airways’ proposed IPO, he said: “Well, this has been delayed. I don’t know when we will do it. It all depends on the economic situation, globally. As you know, the world is getting into deep recession. So, it is not the right time to go…or even talk about the IPO.”
