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Qatar Airways today signed a firm contract for 24 Airbus A320 Family aircraft. The agreement includes twenty A320s, as well as the firming up of four A321 aircraft announced at the Farnborough Air Show in July 2008.
The Doha-based carrier currently operates 19 A320 Family aircraft, and is the Middle East’s largest customer of this particular fleet. The new aircraft, configured with a two-class cabin, which commence delivery from November 2009 till end 2012, will be deployed to enhance and expand services on regional, European and southwest Asian services.
Qatar Airways has selected International Aero Engines’ (IAE) V2500 SelectOne powerplants to power this new order. India’s IndiGo airlines was the launch customer of this engine.
The new aircraft ordered will join the existing fleet of 19 A320 aircraft, four A340-600s and 29, the largest fleet of Airbus A330s, in the Middle East. Qatar Airways is also a customer for the Airbus A380, the world’s biggest aircraft, and is the largest customer for the A350 XWB with 80 planes on order.
The carrier has more than 200 aircraft worth over US$40 billion on order; six new routes planned over the next six months; and U$1 billion worth of infrastructure improvements at Doha International Airport.
