Qatar Airways Considers Acquiring American Airlines’ A330s
Qatar Airways is reportedly exploring the acquisition of several former American Airlines Airbus A330 widebody aircraft to address a capacity gap caused by delays in new aircraft deliveries from Airbus and Boeing. The Doha-based airline aims to bolster its fleet to meet the surging post-pandemic travel demand.
American Airlines’ Retired A330 Fleet
The Airbus A330s under consideration were originally part of US Airways before its merger with American Airlines in December 2013. During the COVID-19 pandemic, American Airlines streamlined its fleet to focus on four core aircraft families: Boeing 737, 777, 787, and the Airbus A320 family. This decision led to the retirement of other types, including 15 A330-200s and nine A330-300s, which have been in long-term storage at Roswell Air Center (ROW) in New Mexico since early 2020.
Strategic Benefits for Qatar Airways
Industry commentator JonNYC revealed on social media that Qatar Airways is interested in the A330-200 models. These aircraft offer the range and capacity suitable for both regional and long-haul routes, making them an ideal fit for the airline’s operational needs. Configured to seat 247 passengers across three classes—20 in business, 21 in premium economy, and 206 in economy—the planes were retrofitted shortly before being grounded, adding to their appeal.
Addressing Delivery Delays
Qatar Airways has been facing challenges due to ongoing delays in the delivery of new aircraft. The airline is awaiting Boeing 787 Dreamliners and has 60 Boeing 777X aircraft on order, whose entry into service has been postponed to at least 2026—six years later than initially promised. These delays have prompted the airline to seek alternative solutions to expand its fleet promptly.
Current Measures to Meet Demand
To cope with the capacity shortfall, Qatar Airways has been wet-leasing aircraft from Oman Air, including four A330-200s and three A330-300s, seating 226 and 289 passengers respectively. The airline also operates its own fleet of two A330-200s and eight A330-300s, accommodating 260 and 305 passengers. Acquiring additional A330-200s from American Airlines would enhance Qatar Airways’ ability to meet increasing passenger demand.
Fleet Integration and Customer Experience
Should the acquisition proceed, the A330s are expected to be repainted and retrofitted with Qatar Airways’ onboard products. This ensures fleet consistency and a seamless customer experience, maintaining the airline’s reputation for high-quality service.
Qatar Airways’ consideration of American Airlines’ stored A330-200s reflects a strategic move to mitigate capacity issues caused by delayed aircraft deliveries.
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