Qantas may be forced to lease A330s if forced to wait for B787

Qantas is reportedly considering a proposal to lease extra A330 aircraft from Airbus if the carrier does not receive its first B787 aircraft before 2013 (The Australian, 22-Dec-2010). The carrier has 50 of the new Dreamliners on order and has been hoping to receive its first in 2012, but now believes it will not happen until 2013. Qantas plans to replace its A330 aircraft with the new B787s for international services but could be forced to lease additional A330s in the interim.