Qatar Airways’ chief executive stated on Monday that the Gulf carrier’s capacity to extend its number of destinations to more than 255 from 170 currently depended on the delivery of additional aircraft.
Qatar Airways CEO Akbar Al Baker told reporters during a press conference at the Arabian Travel Market conference in Dubai that the airline planned to expand to 190 flights, but that more destinations were still feasible.
“Depending on aircraft deliveries, we could add 85 or 90 destinations,” Qatar Airways CEO Akbar Al Baker told reporters.
According to him, the airline expects Boeing and Airbus to begin deliveries soon. Previously, he stated that delivery delays had forced the airline to scale back its expansion plans.
In March, Airbus reopened a 73-plane order with Qatar Airways that it had revoked after a major legal dispute over damage to the surface of grounded A350s.
The airline and planemaker reached an agreement in February, and Al Baker anticipates getting the planes in the “not too distant future.”
Qatar Airways is also suffering delays in the delivery of Boeing 787 and 777X planes, according to Al Baker. He said that the 787 delays were caused by “unnecessary” concerns expressed by the Federal Aviation Administration in the United States.
In response to the FAA’s concerns, Boeing temporarily suspended delivery of new 787 aircraft in February to perform more investigation of a fuselage component.
Al Baker stated that he was looking forward to working with Riyadh Air, Saudi Arabia’s newly declared national airline that aspires to compete with regional carriers such as Qatar Airways. “There is plenty of business for everyone… “We will collaborate and support them,” he said. He then informed reporters that Qatar Airways might explore codeshares or technical assistance exchanges with the new airline.
High energy prices have not dampened passenger desire for travel at Qatar Airways, which has load factors in the “high 80s,” according to Al Baker.
According to him, the airline spent $2.4 billion more on fuel in 2022 than it had budgeted. It had taken steps to protect clients from rising energy bills, but had warned that it was “not an unlimited cushion.”
Al Baker stated that the airline was “fighting with oil companies” to increase the production of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) and lower the price to affordable levels.
The airline intends to employ the fuel, which has the potential to lower its carbon impact, either entirely or in conjunction with conventional fuel.
