Dubai: Qatar Airways still does not have a licence for its Saudi Arabian off-shoot, which its chief executive previously said would start operating this quarter.
A spokesperson for Qatar Airways stated that its Saudi Arabian domestic carrier, Al Maha Airways, is “going through the standard process in order to obtain its Air Operator Certificate (AOC).”
The AOC is the approval given by a national aviation authority to permit an airline to operate commercial flights within the country.
While Qatar Airways never set a specific launch date, Akbar Al Baker, the airlines CEO, reportedly said in November last year that Al Maha operations would start in the first quarter just lapsed. The following month he was quoted as saying it would launch in the third quarter.
This week the Qatar Airways spokesperson stated, “Al Maha Airways is on track for a start of operations by the end of 2014.”
The ever-moving launch date comes amid tense diplomatic relations between Qatar and Saudi Arabia. However, nothing indicates Qatar Airways is feeling the pressure because of the wavering relations.
Instead, Qatar Airways has been given a foothold in the Saudi domestic carrier in an effort to liberalise the kingdom’s aviation market.
“Reform initiatives in [Saudi Arabia] have been stop-and-go but generally trending in a positive direction. It’s not unusual to receive final clearance right before the start of operations — sometimes even the day before,” stated Will Horton, senior analyst at CAPA — Centre for Aviation.
Al Maha Airways will reportedly start by serving main cities, including Riyadh and Jeddah. It will be joined by Saudi Gulf, a new airline, which is yet to take off, owned by the Al Qahtani Group.
“No one was expecting overnight regulatory reform, although maintaining the old way does not help future impressions,” Horton stated.
The domestic market is currently served by Saudi Arabian Airlines (Saudia) and flynas.
