Qatar Airways to dispose of A330F fleet, intensifies price competition

There could be a second airline about to end its A330F operations in the Middle East. After Etihad parked its five A330Fs, Qatar Airways plans to return three A330Fs to their lessor upon the lease expiring in 2019. Qatar is considering selling the five A330Fs it owns. Qatar Airways is the second largest operator of A330Fs. Turkish Airlines operates nine.

The aircraft disposals could mean that one third of the A330F fleet is on the market from a few lessors and airline owners, creating price competition and perhaps the need for some creativity as owners with only one or two A330Fs partner with others for bigger deals to customers. There is opportunity for airlines that could not take a brand-new A330F to take one of these still relatively young A330Fs.

The larger freight operators are more interested in the 777F's longer range and higher payload capacity. Qatar Airways has an LoI for a further five 777Fs, which will make Qatar the second largest 777F operator after FedEx.