DUBAI, Sept 29 (Reuters) - Qatar Airways will resume flights
with Airbus A380s earlier than planned to make up for
capacity lost in the regulator grounding of some of its A350s,
according to a report published on Wednesday.
The airline last year indefinitely parked its 10 A380s after
the COVID-19 collapse in long-haul travel, and said it would
only ever use five of them once they returned to service.
Executive Traveller, quoting the airline's chief executive,
said Qatar Airways would operate flights with five of its parked
A380s from November, with all 10 possibly returning next year.
“We have to find capacity for our passengers who need
airlines to take them to their loved ones for Christmas,” Akbar
Al Baker was quoted as saying.
A Qatar Airways representative confirmed the report was
accurate.
The five A380s would give the Gulf carrier more than half
the 4,000-seat capacity it had lost in the Qatari regulatory
grounding of 13 A350s in August.
The grounding followed Qatar Airways allegations that the
fuselage surface below the paint on each of the jets was
deteriorating.
The airline has been locked in a months-long public dispute
with Airbus over the allegations, insisting it would not take
any A350 deliveries until the problem was resolved.
Al Baker in January said the A380s - the world's biggest
passenger jet - was the "worst aircraft" with regards to
emissions.
Executive Traveller also reported that Qatar Airways was
looking to hire "additional" Boeing 777 pilots from
British Airways for "at least the next six months." Qatar
Airways is a minority owner of British Airways-owner IAG
.
(Writing by Alexander Cornwell
Editing by Bill Berkrot)