Qantas changes jetliner orders

Qantas Airways said today that it has converted orders for 21 Airbus A320 aircraft into the re-engined A320neo variant and deferred the delivery by four years. This means Australia's flag carrier now has orders for 99 Airbus A320neos, and the airline said the move is part of the latest restructuring of its order book. The decision will help cut capital expenditure at Qantas. The airline also said it has delayed the first of its options and purchase rights for 50 Boeing 787 planes by a year to 2017. (Source: Reuters, 08/28/14) Gulf Coast note: Airbus is building an A320 final assembly line in Mobile, Ala.; Boeing has non-commercial airline operations in New Orleans and Fort Walton Beach, Fla.