Qatar puts budget airline on hold
Qatar Airways has finalised plans for its low-cost carrier, but it will not launch it until it faces threats of losing revenues to other budget airlines in the region, said a top airline official.
"We already have our plan for the low-cost carrier ready, but we are holding it back. The plan is complete," said Akbar Al Baker, Chief Executive Officer of Qatar Airways.
"We will launch the budget airline if there is a major dent in our revenue," he said, adding that other budget airlines flying to Doha have not had any major impact on the revenues of Qatar Airways.
Asked about the sustainability of his massive expansion plans, he said they are the second-largest carrier in the Gulf after Emirates and that the carrier's expansion is based on a comprehensive business study. "We have been witnessing some 35 per cent growth every year and we will continue to grow with the addition of more destinations and more aircraft," he added.
Read full story here: http://gulfnews.com/business/aviation/qatar-puts-budget-airline-on-hold-...
mods is there a way to ban these trolls who put ads in between discussions?
and that statement above "Mr.Al Baker has 100% state support,he doesn't give a toss about the bottom line,this is just in keeping with the "oh! we're posh,not pleb like the other GCC countries requiring a budget" is why Qataris would never make successful Managers outside Qatar....for that matter they are pathetic in Qatar...
When a national carrier is sponsored by a Govt. overflowing with funds from oil & gas revenues,it would take A LOT,for there to be any sort of "dent" in their revenues now wouldn't it?...budget carriers are the present & the future,there is a parallel market for them ANYWHERE in the world ESPECIALLY a region with SO MANY low-income expat workers,QR is in fact losing millions but our friend Mr.Al Baker has 100% state support,he doesn't give a toss about the bottom line,this is just in keeping with the "oh! we're posh,not pleb like the other GCC countries requiring a budget carrier,sacrilage i say!." of course he's against a low-cost carrier,so pleb,for a "refined, posh" people such as these eh?...NOT...
Read what he said carefully, Raven:
"We will launch the budget airline if there is a major dent in our revenue."
How do you define "major"?
The airline loses hundreds of millions of dollars each year already, so I guess there is no hurry in launching a budget carrier.
If we go back 2 years, Al Baker was saying:
"Personally, I am still against the idea of a low-cost carrier."
http://www.arabianbusiness.com/518768-qatar-airways-may-launch-a-budget-carrier
I find it hard to believe that FlyDubai hasn't had a massive impact on their Doha-Dubai leg.....
No Julian...the name would be "Miskeen Air".
------------------------------------------------------ Whenever I find the Key to Success, Someone Steals it.
whats the name of airline? flydoha?
yeah....on hold forever.......it will never happen here
"It is better to be hated for what you are than being loved for what you are not."