By Liz Lee
LANGKAWI, Malaysia (Reuters) - Qatar Airways said it may convert its 10 orders for the Boeing Co (N:BA) ultra-long-range 777-8 widebody jet to the larger 777-9, depending on the performance of the 777-9.
"If the 9 is performing very close to the parameters that the 8 will operate, yes we may convert the 8 to 9," Qatar Airways CEO Akbar al-Baker told Reuters on the sidelines of an event to launch a new route from Doha to Langkawi.
Emirates and Qatar Airways are the only firm customers for the 777-8 model, which Boeing is also trying to sell to Australia's Qantas Airways Ltd (AX:QAN) for record-long commercial flights from Sydney to London.
The date of entry into service for the 777-8 will depend partly on customer demand, a Boeing executive said on Wednesday, after the U.S. manufacturer in August said plans for first deliveries in 2022 would be delayed.
The 777-9 is due to make its first test flight in 2020.
Qatar Airways also has 50 777-9s on order and will maintain 60 orders for the 777X family in total even if it converts some to the larger model, al-Baker said.
Emirates has 35 of the 777-8 model on order but its president, Tim Clark, has said some of its 150 orders for 777X family planes could be switched to 787s.