Qatar Airways to retire 50 aircraft, does not expect return of A380 to service

Qatar Airways is looking to downsize its fleet and cut 20% of its workforce. This equates to 50 of its 245 aircraft in its fleet which may include its 10 A380 superjumbos.

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In a report from Airlinewatch, Qatar Airways chief executive Akbar Al Baker said in a media briefing last May 11, "Qatar Airways is parking its 10 A380s and they will not return for at least a year, and maybe never."

The airline also believes that it may not make a full recovery in the next three years. "I think I would be very surprised if things will happen before 2023/2024," Al Baker said.

The group is also cutting around a fifth of its workforce as a response to the coronavirus crisis which caused a plunge in air travel demand. In a report from FlightGlobal, Al Akbar said, "Unfortunately, we will have to cut nearly 20% of our workforce – nearly equal to the amount of aeroplanes we will never fly again, over the next three years,” speaking to a BBC interview.

“It’s a very hard decision… but we have no alternative," he said.