THE CLASH OF PLANE-MAKERS

Qatar Airways is planning on a multibillion-dollar investment as part of a fleet renewal programme for 30 cargo aircrafts. This window of opportunity has attracted attention from both Boeing and Airbus. Back in April, Qatar Airways expressed interest in Boeing’s 777X Freighter which was quickly addressed by Boeing’s ‘no plan of production'. However, after Qatar’s announcement, the 777X Freighter is now back on the table for consideration by the plane-maker. This large freighter will be replacing some of Qatar’s old freighters over the coming years. Due to low demand in Boeing’s 777 passenger aircrafts, Boeing is wrestling with certification delays for the freighter. In the meantime, Airbus is also gauging airline's interest in a freighter version of its A350 passenger jet. The competition is fierce as Qatar’s current freight fleet comprises of all Boeing aircrafts whereas Airbus is trying to sweeten the deal by offering freight version of their prime A350 aircrafts.

Summary by Tejaswi Khanna

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