Qatar Airways receives 100th aircraft in Seattle

Qatar Airways Chief Executive Officer Akbar Al Baker has received the airline''s 100th aircraft at the Boeing plant here. The carrier, which is on a massive expansion with a plethora of new destinations added this year, took possession of the Boeing 777-200 Long Range aircraft to reach the milestone of 100 aircraft. The ninth Boeing 777-200LR received by the airline on Friday further strengthens Qatar Airways'' commitment to rapidly expanding its route and fleet network. Boeing Commercial Airplanes President and CEO Jim Albaugh said, "This is a tremendous achievement and we are proud the 777 was chosen to play a key role in this success. Qatar Airways is a key Middle East customer for Boeing. In just over a decade, the airline has grown to become a world-class airline with a rapidly expanding network." Speaking to Dubai-based Gulf News daily, Al Baker revealed Qatar Airways has signed a new order for additional A380 aircraft. The new order for a "few more" superjumbos will be besides the five aircraft that the airline previously ordered. "We ordered the A380s for a specific reason and we found the number we initially ordered to be insufficient. So we ordered a few more," Al Baker told Gulf News in Seattle. Asked to elaborate on the A380 deal, Al Baker said: "We have already placed the order for more A380s but I will tell you how many at the Dubai Airshow." Qatar Airways will officially announce the new deal at the Dubai Airshow, he told the daily. Asked if the airline would also announce deals for A320 and A321s, Al Baker said: "Maybe. Wait for the Dubai Airshow." With Boeing ready to roll out the passenger version of the 747-8 Intercontinental late this year, Qatar Airways is not showing any interest in the aircraft. Asked if Qatar Airways is interested in the aircraft, Akbar Al Baker, the airline''s chief executive, categorically said: "No". "We are not interested in Boeing''s 747-8 passenger version," Al Baker told the daily. "We believe in more frequencies with the smaller plane and the size of the 777 and 787 aircraft type perfectly suit our route structure and requirements. We don''t believe in going with extra-large capacities and dumping those into the markets." Boeing has already launched the freighter version of the 747-8 and is now gearing to hand over the first passenger version to Lufthansa, which is expected to put it into service early next year.