Qatar Airwaysexpects to take delivery of its first Airbus A320neo-family aircraft in 2018.

Chief executive Akbar Al Baker said at the ITB travel fair in Berlin earlier this month thatQatar Airwayswould not receive any narrowbodies this year.

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He told FlightGlobal: "We hope to get our Neos – A321neos – from next year."

Qatar Airwayshad been due to become launch operator of the A320neo in 2015. But problems with thePratt & WhitneyPW1100G geared turbofan led the Gulf carrier to withdraw from that role and cancel orders for four A320neos.

The Doha-based operator now has orders for 30 A320neos and 16 A321neos, and is negotiating with Airbus to convert A320neo orders to the larger variant.

Al Baker says the airline is "talking seriously" with engine manufacturerCFM International"at the moment" about the possibility of Leap engines poweringQatar AirwaysA320neo-family aircraft.