Qatar Airways is to split a widebody order with Boeing and Airbus

According to Bloomberg News, which cited people familiar with the situation, Qatar Airways PJSC is getting close to making a choice over a significant widebody order divided between Boeing and Airbus. According to the source, the Middle East airline is considering acquiring 200 aircraft, a combination of Airbus A350 and Boeing 777X types. A decision might be made as early as the Farnborough Air Show in Britain in late January. When contacted for a statement, Boeing referred questions regarding fleet requirements to Qatar Airways, while Airbus stated that it is in continual communication with clients about such needs but provided no further information. A Reuters request for comment was met with a lack of response from Qatar Airways. In March, Bloomberg revealed that Qatar Airways was in preliminary discussions with Boeing and Airbus to place an order for 100 to 150 widebody aircraft as part of its fleet renewal and expansion. To meet the increasing demand for international travel while keeping operating costs low, major airlines are vying for new, fuel-efficient widebody planes.