Qatar Airways: ‘Boeing is run by bean counters and lawyers’

Ouch.

The comments of Qatar Airways’ CEO had to hurt.

At the Paris Air Show, Qatar’s chief executive Akbar Al Baker threatened to cancel an order for 60 Dreamliner jets if Boeing doesn’t get its act together.

“Boeing is run by bean counters and lawyers. We have some serious issues with them, and if they do not play ball with us they will be in for a serious surprise.”

Boeing’s 787 is nearly two years behind schedule. However, Scott Carson, president of BCA, told Bloomberg News that the 787 is capable of flying. Boeing plans to put its Dreamliner in the air by the end of June.

UPDATE: Qatar’s Al Baker told Dow Jones Newswire on Wednesday that the airline might become an all-Airbus customer.

Qatar may pull its order for 24 777s and is seeking compensation for delays of the 787s it has on order. Qatar has 60 Dreamliners on order.

“Boeing doesn’t realize how much they’re hurting their customers’ plans,” he said. “They’re very much mistaken if they think we’re going to give them much more time on the issue.”

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