Aga Khan awards presented in Doha

Boeing yesterday said it understood the ramifications of delivery delays of its 787 (Dreamliner), especially after major customer Qatar Airways threatened to take business elsewhere.

“We understand the ramifications … we are just going to work harder to ensure we remain their (Qatar Airways) preferred provider,” Boeing Middle East president Paul Kinscherff told Gulf Times at the opening of the company’s first office in Doha.

Qatar Airways CEO Akbar al-Baker had expressed his disappointment at the continual delay of delivery of the 787s two weeks ago, a fortnight after Boeing held a failed test flight. “We are doing a root-cause analysis of the recent test-flight situation and are finalising the design changes.

The official announcement will be made in coming weeks,” Kinscherff said. “Qatar Airways will have to do what’s best for its fleet… we’d like to get the Dreamliner out as soon as possible but the important thing is to get it right,” he added.

According to Kinscherff, Qatar Airways has placed one of the world’s largest orders for their 777s.

“With the opening of our Doha office, we look forward to working even more closely with our Qatari customers and partners to support their success and the development goals of Qatar’s National Vision 2030,” he said.

The new office, a fourth for the company in the Gulf after Riyadh, Abu Dhabi and Dubai, will primarily house the Boeing Defence, Space & Security (BDS) business, but also serve as the base for Boeing Commercial Airplanes activities, officials said at the opening.

BDS president and CEO Dennis Muilenburg said: “This new office is an important commitment that Boeing is making to Doha, the Qatari government and our customers in the immediate region.”

According to him, the decision to have a physical presence in Doha was made long before Qatar won the hosting rights of the 2022 World Cup, with the announcement last week only confirming “our optimism”.

The company has delivered two C-17 Globemaster III airlifters, the world’s most popular cargo aircraft, to the Qatar Emiri Air Force in August and September 2009.

The Qatari Air Force subsequently used the C-17s to provide vital humanitarian aid around the world in the aftermath of natural disasters, such as the recent earthquakes in Haiti and Chile.

“We are also working closely with Qatar’s Armed Forces to determine how the company can best meet its future military requirements. Future potential exists for maritime strike attack aircraft, reconnaissance rotorcraft and tactical aircraft,” Muilenburg said.

To another question, Muilenburg said one area of mutual interest is in the research and technology area where Boeing would broadly focus on R&D on aerospace and defence.

“Generally, we look for research development opportunities that allow us to span across commercial and defence sectors and those are the kind of productive relationships that we think we can build here in the region,” he said.

The office in Doha will also provide support and training on its products. Retired US Marine Corps Lt Gen Mike Delong, a Middle East regional vice president with BDS International Business Development, will lead the Doha office.