Qatar Air plans move to GE-powered Airbus A320 in Pratt blow

Qatar Airways said it’s seeking to renegotiate a $7.8 billion order for Airbus Group SE narrow-body jets and could switch to bigger planes powered by alternative engines as part of a revised agreement. The Gulf carrier wants to keep the deal for 80 A320neos after refusing to take the first four aircraft because of glitches with their Pratt & Whitney turbines, Chief Executive Officer Akbar Al Baker said in an interview. It aims to upgrade to the stretched A321neo variant as part of those deliberations, he added. Qatar Airways is holding parallel discussions about moving to powerplants supplied by the CFM International alliance of General Electric Co. and Safran SA in response to the engine performance issue, Al Baker said Monday in Doha. Deliveries would start from 2018 if an agreement is concluded. (Deena Kamel Yousef/Bloomberg)