Interview with Qatar Airways CEO

[HD video below] On Thursday (4 November 2010) TravelNewsAsia.com sat with Mr. Akbar Al Baker, CEO of Qatar Airways, one of the youngest and fastest growing airlines in the world.

In the HD video interview below, we ask about Qatar Airways recent route launches and capacity increases to places such as Vietnam and Phuket, how the airline is using these Fifth Freedom Traffic Rights, why the Middle Eastern airlines have such small carry on baggage allowances - 6kg in QR's case and where the expected extra 100,000 passengers to / from the Thai market per year come from.

We also ask the latest delivery date for Qatar Airways' first Boeing 787 Dreamliner as well as the Airbus A380 superjumbo, and learn a little about what Mr Al Baker will be unveiling at the ITB in Berlin next March.

 Qatar Airways currently has a total of 5 A380s on order as well as 60 Boeing 787-8s. In total though, the dynamic airline expects to operate a fleet of more than 120 aircraft by 2013 - of which there will be 80 A350s.

Of course with all the talk of airline security at the moment, it would be wrong to sit with the CEO of one of the world's most important airlines and not ask for his views on airline security, on how he feels a balance can be found between traveller convenience and safety.

We also learn about the airline's plans to save potentially millions, if not more, simply by getting rid of a few of the more common items on an airline. Learn about these things and much more by watching the HD video below.

HD Video Interview with Qatar Airways CEO

Qatar Airways currently flies to 94 destinations across Europe, Africa, Middle East, Asia Pacific, North and South America with a fleet of 91 aircraft. By 2013, the Doha-based airline plans to serve 120 key business and leisure destinations worldwide with a fleet of 120 aircraft.

The airline has orders for 80 Airbus A350s, 60 Boeing 787s and 32 Boeing 777s, with deliveries of the latter having started in November 2007. Qatar Airways is also a customer of the twin-deck Airbus A380 ‘super jumbo’ with five on order scheduled for delivery in 2012, by which time the New Doha International Airport should have opened.

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