Qatar Airways’ Akbar Al Baker hasn’t held back his criticism of Boeing and its delayed 787 Dreamliner program.
Yesterday, Al Baker told reporters that Boeing had “lost its leadership” at an event in Washington DC, reports USA Today. Qatar’s CEO said that Boeing management should have anticipated problems with the 787.
Boeing is more than two years late in delivering its mostly composite 787. The company again delayed the first flight of the Dreamliner in June. At its second quarter earnings call this week, Boeing executives refused to give a new schedule, saying they would have more details by the end of September.
Qatar Airways has 30 787s on order and options for another 30.
Qatar’s Al Baker was already irate at Boeing at the Paris Air Show in June, before the new delay was announced. At the air show, Al Baker told reporters that “Boeing is run by bean counters and lawyers.”
On Thursday, Qatar’s CEO said he would take the job as Boeing chief executive if it was offered to him and “a lot of heads would roll. Just like it my airline. … People must deliver.”
Boeing officials are to give Al Baker an update on the 787 today in Washington DC. Oh, to be a fly on the wall during that little meet-and-greet. …
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