Dubai: Qatar Airways plans to fly to 120 destinations with a fleet of 120 aircraft by 2013 in line with its massive expansion programme to make it a truly global airline.
From only four aircraft in 1997, the Qatar-based airline is currently flying 81 aircraft to 88 destinations using Doha as its hub. Though it was originally launched in 1994, it was relaunched in 1997 by its Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Akbar Al Baker. Since then, the airline continued to grow at an annual rate of around 40 per cent. He has been instrumental in turning the airline into an award-winning five-star carrier and among the best in the world.
Gulf News spoke to Al Baker on the occasion of the airline's inaugural flight from Doha to Ankara — the 88th destination of the airline — and found that there was no stopping the carrier even during the economic downturn.
Al Baker spoke about his ambitious plans for the growth of the airline, the new Doha International Airport and the role his airline would be playing to promote business and leisure tourism in the region.
Following are excerpts from his interview.
Gulf News: How do you think this massive expansion plan of Qatar Airways is viable and sustainable proposition especially at a time when airlines around the world are facing financial crunch?
Akbar Al Baker: Our expansion is phenomenal with ongoing orders for more than 200 aircraft worth over $40 billion (Dh147.12 billion). Competition is making us grow faster and we remained undeterred with what is happening with other airlines.
We are the second-largest carrier in the Gulf region after Emirates and are determined to be number one. Our expansion is based on comprehensive business studies. We are adding destinations and it is not because we just want to show our aircraft in other countries.
Let me tell you we don't fly anything but passengers and we are in great demand. The airline will operate a fleet of 120 aircraft by 2013 to 120 destinations around the globe. Also, we will increase frequencies in addition to adding more capacity with the introduction of bigger aircraft.
What is your passenger growth rate?
We have been witnessing some 35 per cent growth every year and we hope to continue to grow even faster with the addition of more destinations and more aircraft.
The airline carried 12 million passengers in 2008-2009 financial year (April-March) and is expecting to carry 14 million in the fiscal year 2010-2011.
When are you launching the low cost airline?
We have finalised plans for the budget airline but will not launch it until we believe that other budget airlines are causing any damage to our revenue. In fact, other budget airlines flying to Doha are denting revenues of their own parent airlines and we are still unaffected.
Nevertheless, our plan for the low-cost carrier is already ready and we have even decided its name. We will launch the budget airline but only at the right time.
What type of aircraft are expected to join your fleet?
We have a wide range of aircraft in our fleet. Currently, we have more than 200 aircraft on order worth over $40 billion for delivery over the next few years.
They include 80 Airbus A350s, together with 60 Boeing 787s and 32 Boeing 777s. We have ordered five of the twin-deck Airbus A380 superjumbos for delivery from 2012.
We will not keep any aircraft for more than three years and two months as ours is a five-star airline and is committed to offer five-star services. We will receive some 18 aircraft this year while the number will double next year.
How many new destinations are you planning to add to your network this year?
We have already announced flights to seven new destinations by June this year this year and will also launch eight more new routes by March 2011.
Out of the seven new routes announced this year, the airline has already stated flights to Bangalore on February 22, Copenhagen on March 30, Ankara on April 5 while it will fly to Tokyo on April 26, to Barcelona on June 7, Sao Paulo on June 24 and Buenos Aires (Argentina) on June 24.
The highlight for the airline's plan is expansion into South America this summer — completing the airline's global jigsaw through the addition of another continent to its international route.
Do you think that you will have enough traffic for such a huge number of destinations?
We are linking the world through Doha. We are flying people from Europe and North America, the Middle East, Africa, South Asia, Indian Ocean, Asia-Pacific and will soon be flying to South America.
Using Doha as a hub, we are carrying passengers from around the globe offering them five-star luxury travel facilities and this is the secret of our success.
From our hub in Doha, passengers can connect to range of business and leisure destinations across the Middle East, Africa, Asia-Pacific and South Asia.
Passengers flying our First or Business class through Doha onto connecting cities with the airline will be able to transit through the airline's exclusive Premium Terminal, where they can unwind and relax enjoying exclusive facilities including fine dinning, spa treatment and duty-free shopping.
When will the new Doha International Airport be opened? Is it on track?
Yes, it is very much on track. The new Doha International Airport, which is being built at a cost of $14.5 billion will have an initial capacity of 24 million passengers a year. Once fully developed beyond 2015, the airport is expected to handle up to 50 million passengers a year. Sixty per cent of the site is built on land reclaimed from the Arabian Gulf.
It is the first airport in the world which is especially built to operate Airbus A380 super jumbo aircraft.
Are you planning to launch freighter service?
Yes, we have plans to create a fleet of freighter aircraft to operate a global cargo network over the next few years. The airline currently operates three dedicate freighters on selected destinations around the world.
Profile: An illustrious career
Akbar Al Baker, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Qatar Airways has been instrumental in shaping the development of Qatar Airways into one of the fastest growing and highly acclaimed airlines in the world.
Born in Doha, he 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, over the last decade, spearheaded the growth of Qatar Airways, which operated only four aircraft in a regional capacity prior to his appointment. Qatar Airways currently flies 88 destinations across Europe, Middle East, Africa, South Asia, Far East, North America and Australia.
He is also leading the development of multi-billion dollar New Doha International Airport, which is scheduled to open by 2011.
A highly motivated individual, Al Baker has been a successful businessman in Doha with more than 25 years. He holds a private pilot licence and is also CEO of several divisions of Qatar's National Airline -these being Qatar Airways Holdings, Qatar Aviation Services, Qatar Duty Free Company, Doha International Airport, Qatar Distribution Company and Qatar Aircraft Catering Company.
