Qatar Airways plans to hold a joint press conference with Airbus next week at Britain's Farnborough International Airshow, likely signaling a major plane order.
The company did not indicate what the press conference concerned, but an industry source said the Gulf-based airline was expected to announce a large plane order at the show.
Qatar Airways, one of the leading plane-buyers among quickly expanding Middle Eastern carriers, has traditionally been a staunch Boeing customer. Last year it ordered 30 of Boeing's new 787s and has 27 of its larger 777s on order.
At last year's Paris air show, Qatar confirmed a previously announced order for 80 new Airbus A350 XWB models -- which will compete with the 787 -- and three additional A380 superjumbos, worth about USD$17 billion in total.
