Qatar Airways has warned that Airbus risks missing out on a substantial part of the freighter sector by stalling on an A330 conversion.

Speaking during the Arab Air Carriers Organization conference in Abu Dhabi, Qatar chief executive Akbar Al Baker said he primarily wanted a conversion option for the carrier's A330-200s - the type for which Airbus is trying to offer a new-build freighter airframe.

Qatar Airways A330-200

Credit: Airteamimages.com

"We're not going to buy [them]," Al Baker insisted, and warned: "What they're not realising is that, by not obliging, they're going to lose a very large market share."

He pointed to the demand from FedEx as an indicator, and reiterated that Qatar Airways plans to hold talks with Boeing and other parties on obtaining converted 767 freighters.

Qatar Airways A330-200

Credit: Eclipse@Flightglobal.com/AirSpace

While Qatar Airways does not operate the 767, Al Baker said that the carrier was not concerned about introducing another type to its fleet.

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Source: Air Transport Intelligence news

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