Willie Walsh wades into row between Qatar Airways and Airbus

Airbus last week revoked a Qatar order for A321neo jets, a hot-selling smaller model that Qatar Airways says it needs

Willie Walsh said: "I would hate to think that one of the suppliers is taking advantage of their current market strength to exploit their position." File photo

Willie Walsh, the head of the airline representative body IATA, has waded into a high-profile dispute between Airbus and Qatar Airways saying the planemaker's decision to revoke a jetliner contract was a new and "worrying" development.

The former Aer Lingus and BA chief warned suppliers should not exploit market strength, in an apparent reference to a surprise decision by Airbus to revoke a Qatar jet order as part of a deepening row.