Boeing faces up to one of its biggest critics
WASHINGTON,DC – Qantas boss Alan Joyce may need to make more noise in the US if he wants to jump the queue with delivery of Boeing’s much-anticipated, oft-delayed 787 Dreamliner.
Qantas, the biggest customer for the Dreamliner, has reduced its order by 15 planes to 50, and has had to reschedule expansion of its low-cost subsidiary Jetstar on proposed routes to Europe.
Qantas was supposed to receive its first 787 last August but will not get one now to 2013.
Another major customer for the 787, Qatar Airways, has been hammering Boeing at every opportunity – and the tactic may have paid off.
Qatar Airways CEO Akbar Al Baker last week accused the US aircraft manufacturer of losing its leadership.
"The mess with this (787) programme could have been corrected a long time ago. If they had correctly focused management, they could have seen this coming."
Asked during a media conference if he’d take the job as CEO at Boeing if it were offered to him, Al Baker said: "I would take it and a lot of heads would roll. Just like in my airline. People must deliver."
Baker has warned several times recently that Qatar may cancel its 30-aircraft 787 order if Boeing does not quickly resolve delay issues.
Boeing, at the weekend, invited him for talks…and the outcome is likely to see Qatar shunted towards the front of the delivery queue when the 787 finally rolls into commercial production.
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Ian Jarrett
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