Qatar Airways orders 55 Airbus aircraft

The agreement is for 50 of Airbus' new generation A320new airplaes with a further 30 on option, together with five additional A380s super jumbos and three on option. The value of the deal for the firm orders at list prices is $6.4bn.

The announcement came late in the afternoon after Qatar Airways CEO Akbar al-Baker said earlier in the day that negotiations with Airbus had stalled. 'When I said we are at an impasse it was an issue with the A320 and I said it was an issue with the aircraft and this is why I said Airbus is forgetting how to make airplanes,' al-Baker said.

'But since I said that I think they very quickly went to the drawing board. In addition to this, when we talk about impasse, when it comes to contract negotiations there will be impasse where both sides are entrenched in their positions. You know the Israelis and the Palestinians are at an impasse for the past 50 years, so if we are (at an impasse) for just a few hours it's not a big deal. It is water under the bridge.'

The A320neo is an option for the A320 family and incorporates new engines and large 'sharklet' wing tip devices which are designed to deliver fuel savings. 'The A320neo promises to be a great aircraft which why we have chosen it to form the backbone of our future single aisle expansion,' al-Baker said.

The five new A380s will double the number of the airline's super jumbos already in the delivery pipeline, taking firm orders up to 10 aircraft. Deliveries are due to begin in 2013.

The airline currently operates a fleet of 102 Airbus and Boeing aircraft. Aside from the A380s and A320 family pending delivery, the carrier is the world's largeset customer of 80 of the new generation A350s.

However,at the afternoon press conference Al-Baker once again expressed his displeasure with delays to the delivery of the A350: 'We have an issue with the A350-1000 and I mentioned to you that Airbus is still developing that airplane, so it is still too early to speculate on that aircraft. But as of today, yes, we are unhappy.'

Asked whether he is considering delaying or deferring orders for the aircraft, al-Baker said it is 'too early for me to comment on that question', adding, 'let me tell that they are looking at it very aggressively and they will come up with more positive results on that airplane in the not too distant future'.