European aircraft giant Airbus handed over 30 aircraft to customers in January and also received 36 new orders. However, because Qatar Airways canceled its order for 50 narrow-body A321neo aircraft at the manufacturer’s initiative and cancelled two wide-body A350-1000s, the order book dropped by 16 units in January. Last month, Airbus announced it had terminated a contract with Qatar to deliver 50 A321neos due to a disagreement over defects in the A350’s paintwork, leading the parties to a lawsuit. The cancellation of the order for two A350s has just become known.

Deliveries of high-demand A321neo to Qatar were to begin in the middle of the current year, and by 2025 the airline’s fleet was to be replenished with 12 such aircraft. According to Airbus official data, Qatar still has an order for 21 A350-1000s.

The Qatari airline responded to the cancellation of its order by expanding its relationship with Boeing, placing a surprise order for 50 narrow-body Boeing 737MAX-10s and launching the wide-body B-777-8F cargo program with an order for 34 units.

Qatar now has a mixed fleet of 211 Airbus and Boeing aircraft, some of which (40 aircraft) have been taken out of active service – including 21 A350s that have been stopped due to paint defects.

Airbus’ new January orders include 22 A220 family aircraft for U.S. leasing company Azorra Aviation, as well as orders from two unnamed buyers – for a total of eight A321neo.