22 June, 2019

Qatar Airways calls time on A380 operations

A380's to be retired in five years!

The boss of Qatar Airways has called time on the airlines 10 strong fleet of Airbus double-decker A380 aircraft at the Paris Air Show last week.

Akbar Al Baker, has confirmed his airline will start to get rid of its fleet from 2024 onwards,  according to Flightglobal, he said "We feel that the aircraft does not have very long future in Qatar Airways' fleet, We would think about retiring those aeroplanes on their 10th anniversary, unless something untoward happens and we need them."


Al Baker also said that the first of the carriers A380 will be withdrawn in just five years' time "because it would be 10 years old".  The outspoken and often controversial boss says his airline will look to replace the A380 with Boeing 777x aircraft, despite that programme being dogged by design and powerplant issues and delays. 

Despite having a great product offering on the A380, the airline has been struggling in recent years following diplomatic and financial tensions in the area, which has forced Qatar Airway to focus on more wet leasing opportunities and foreign airline investment.


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