The interview “We are upset about protectionism and being
restricted in Europe, but restricting us will not bring any benefit to anyone else – quite the contrary”
carriers moved to Heathrow so we didn’t have any more transfer traffic from US flights.”
The decision meant that an extra flight was added to Manchester and, this year, Heathrow – taking it to five times a day from Heathrow. This year also saw the opening of Qatar’s upmarket lounge at the airport’s Terminal 4. Yet the airline doesn’t pursue luxury at any cost, and indeed has said it will only have first class on its A380 aircraft when it arrives. The delay waiting for the A350 has meant Qatar will retrofit its A330 aircraft, removing the first class and fitting more lie flat seating in an enlarged business class. It will also sell its A340-500 aircraft which currently have first class on board. The same applies to expansion –
yes, the airline flies to Melbourne and is about to fly to Perth, but Al Baker regards Sydney as “not a 24-hour airport, so we have to keep our aircraft there for a long time, plus they are over-served,
so we would have to drop the yield to be competitive and we will not do that.” Still, for all the news that Qatar Airways will announce this year, it is the opening of New Doha International Airport at the end of 2012 that will be the most exciting. Al Baker admits that “infrastructure on the ground is always the biggest challenge for an airline wanting to expand,” but the delay with the project has allowed it to expand with Qatar Airways’ ambitions. The current airport is handling some 16 million passengers, but on the opening day of the new one that will jump to 25 million with an eventual capacity of some 50 million. The new airport will have a 4,850m runway and a 4,250m runway capable of taking a fully loaded Airbus A380, with a 600,000sq m three-storey terminal with 22 remote gates and 41 contact gates, six of which will cater specifically for the A380. There is no sign of Qatar Airways slowing. ■
Born in Doha, Akbar Al Baker is a graduate in economics and commerce, and worked at various levels in the Civil Aviation Directorate before becoming Qatar Airways’ CEO in 1997. Al Baker has spearheaded the growth of Qatar Airways, which operated just four aircraft in a regional capacity prior to his appointment. Qatar Airways currently flies to over 110 destinations across six continents. Al Baker is also leading the development of the multi-billion dollar New Doha International Airport, which is scheduled to open at the end of this year.
Business in France is just 35 minutes away! For flexibility that suits your agenda choose
- our priority is you!
• Flexibility: choose when you want to travel • Dedicated Check-In • Priority boarding: first on, first off! • Exclusive lounge with complimentary refreshments, newspapers and WiFi