Qatar Airways Plans Rapid Growth with Expansion of Destinations

(MENAFN) Qatar Airways CEO, Akbar Al-Baker, announced plans for rapid growth that could see the airline expanding its number of destinations to 190 from the current 177, but this is dependent on the timely delivery of additional aircraft. Speaking at a press conference during the Arabian Travel Market conference in Dubai, Al-Baker highlighted that the airline's ability to expand its destinations is contingent on receiving further aircraft deliveries. He expressed optimism that the airline's plane makers, Boeing and Airbus, will begin delivering soon.

Previously, delivery delays had prompted the airline to make conservative growth plans. However, Airbus reinstated an order for 73 aircraft in March, which it had previously revoked during a legal dispute over damage to the surface of grounded A350s. Qatar Airways and Airbus resolved the dispute in February, and Al-Baker expects to start receiving the aircraft in the "not too distant future."

Qatar Airways is also facing delayed delivery of Boeing 787 and 777X planes. Al-Baker stated that the delays with 787s were caused by "unnecessary" concerns raised by the US Federal Aviation Administration. Boeing had temporarily halted the delivery of new 787 aircraft in February to conduct additional analysis of a fuselage component amid the FAA's concerns.

Al-Baker expressed his willingness to cooperate with Riyadh Air, Saudi Arabia's newly announced national airline, which aims to compete with regional carriers like Qatar Airways. He acknowledged that there is a lot of business around for everyone and stated that Qatar Airways would cooperate and support Riyadh Air, without specifying how.

Qatar Airways' plans for rapid growth through an expansion of destinations reflect its ambition to maintain its position as a leading global airline. However, the successful implementation of these plans is reliant on the timely delivery of additional aircraft from its plane makers. Qatar Airways' CEO remains optimistic that the airline will receive the necessary deliveries to achieve its growth targets.

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