The Qatari carrier is considering purchasing 150 wide-body aircraft from the American Boeing and European Airbus (Reuters)

Qatar Airways is considering purchasing up to 150 wide-body aircraft from the American Boeing and European Airbus, as part of a strategic move to revitalize its fleet, according to sources familiar with the matter who spoke to Bloomberg.

This national carrier aims to modernize and expand its long-haul capabilities through this order, which could change the rules of the game in the aviation industry.

Sources close to the negotiations, who requested anonymity due to the sensitive nature of the discussions, revealed to Bloomberg that Qatar Airways is looking to buy between 100 and 150 twin-aisle aircraft.

While details regarding the preferred models are still unannounced, sources indicate that the order is likely to include the Airbus A350 or 777X, highlighting the carrier's inclination towards modern, fuel-efficient options.

In an interview with CNBC, Qatar Airways CEO Badr Al-Meer alluded to ongoing talks with Boeing and Airbus, and declined to reveal the exact size or models of the aircraft under consideration.

Qatar Airways CEO hinted at ongoing talks with Boeing and Airbus (Shutterstock)

“We are in constant dialogue with our customers, but we never talk about the confidential content of our conversations,” Airbus said.

Boeing referred comment on the matter to Qatar Airways, which has not yet responded to a request from Reuters for comment.

Qatar Airways stated - earlier this month - that its entire fleet of A350 aircraft had returned to service, more than a year after settling a legal dispute with Airbus over damage to the exterior of the aircraft.

The size of Qatar Airways' prospective deal depends on various factors, including fleet upgrades, replacements, and the need for new aircraft.

The airline aims to complete negotiations in the coming months.

At present, Qatar Airways operates a fleet consisting of discontinued Airbus A330 and A380 double-decker aircraft, along with Boeing 777 aircraft.

However, the next iteration of the Boeing 777, known as the 777-9, is facing delays and has not yet begun commercial service.

Qatar Airways witnessed a boom in traffic during the first months of the year, driven by expanding network operations and increasing flights to new destinations.

This growth confirms the airline's flexibility amid the global travel boom, which contributes to its achieving record profits.

Source: Al Jazeera + agencies