QATAR Airways says it may cancel an order for 60 Airbus A350 jets and buy US rival Boeing's 787 plane instead.
The Persian Gulf airline is becoming increasingly impatient with a seeming lack of firm information about Airbus's proposed new jet and says it needs new jets to expand its fleet.
Such a switch would be a massive blow for Airbus, which plans to build the A350 wings at its aerospace complex on Deeside.
The European aircraft manufacturer has firm orders for 100 of the proposed new jets, excluding Qatar's commitment to 60. Persian Gulf-based Qatar is threatening to cancel its A350 commitment because Airbus has not spelled out what kind of plane it will bring to the market. Airbus is considering a redesign of the A350 and is expected to announce the results of the review next month.
Qatar chief executive Akbar Al Baker said: "We're not going to wait forever. If things don't happen in the time frame we want to happen, then of course we'll look elsewhere.
"They now want to build a bigger plane, with a larger capacity, a bigger cross section, and they've not yet submitted to us or given us the proposal on what this airplane will do or when it will be delivered."
Chicago-based Boeing is threatening to run away with the market for long, range medium sized jetliners if Airbus does not get its act together quickly.
Boeing has racked up orders for about 300 of its 787 which is due to begin entering service from 2008. The present A350 design is slated to fly two years after that.
But a complete redesign, as being demanded by some customers, could see first delivery date of Airbus's new plane slip back even further, to 2012.
The 787 is being designed as a fuel-efficient jet able to carry between 250 and 300 passengers on long haul routes.
Initially, Airbus has wanted to introduce the A350 to challenge the 787 using an existing Airbus fuselage and new carbon composite wings.
But under pressure from potential buyers to improve the aircraft's design it is now believed to be looking at a bigger plane able to carry about 300 people.
Airbus's Deeside factory, will still build the wings for the new jet.
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Light travels faster than sound...thats why people appear bright, until you hear them talk!
I hope Airbus does not design a new aircraft in haste as it can prove to be a costly failure later on. Airbus is at a critical stage now with the failure of the A350 but they should tread carefully here on!
indeed Airbus are in big trouble... the stupidist thing to do now for them is to try and chase Boeing...
instead they now need to innovate... and come up with something that will beat Boeing and out maneuvere them rather than build something purpose built to take on the 787...
Boeing has already zoomed past them with the 787 and anything now will be a half ass effort to make up HUGE lost ground to Boeing... they just wont able to match the dates and production slots boieng has earmarked for the 787..
more worrying for Airbus is the A380s slipping schedule every month.. and the gradual loss of faith by the Airlines in Airbus's cock and bull yarns and half baked assuarances...
frankly every day that Airbus spends dilly dallying is a point gained for Boeing.