Qatar puts question marks over Airbus A350-800 programme

Qatar Airways has joined Libya's Afriqiyah Airways in amending its 20 aircraft A350 order from the smaller A350-800s to the larger -900 variant.

Last week, Afriqiyah also switched its order to take the larger aircraft

The decision was announced by Qatar’s CEO Akbar Al Baker during the celebrations at the arrival of the Doha airline’s first B787 Dreamliner..

Qatar is the launch customer for both the dash 900 and the dash 1000 types. Its order book now comprises of 60 -900s and 20 -1000s.

A350 programme chief Didier Evrard told journalists last month that Airbus has flexibility in its schedules to bring forward the entry-into-service date of the -1000 which is currently due to appear in 2017, a year after the -800. The current Airbus orderbook for the smaller variant is now 92.

Analyst Saj Ahmad said this move casts doubt on the programme. “Swapping orders and depleting the A350-800 order book, effectively means that Airbus will have little choice but to drop it, and drop it soon - and by extension, it leaves the entire market space for jets between 240-300 seats entirely at the mercy of the 787-9, which starts final assembly in a matter of weeks.

“Qatar Airways has made no secret that it wants to add the 787-9 and also the 787-10, and this move lessens its exposure to the ailing A350-800,” he said.

Others disagree. “The A350-800 currently has more firm orders than the -1000 but it’s widely agreed that the -800 is likely to be the model in least demand in the long-term. But this doesn’t mean there isn’t a market for the aircraft. The question is whether Airbus’ R&D for it will be sufficiently inexpensive to provide a sufficient ROI.” One said.

According to Flightglobal Qatar has confirmed an interest in the Boeing 787-10X, and Al Baker has hinted that Qatar Airways could look to become the launch customer for the double-stretched variant, the news service reported.

Qatarwill receive a further four 787-8s this year, but has the flexibility in its portfolio of 60 orders and options to switch between 787 models.