Cover story
The sky is the limit
The Cargo Terminal at the Hamad International Airport
In a recent study by the Germany-based Jet Airliner Crash Data Evaluation Centre, Finnair was rated the “safest airline”, while China Air was 60th out of the 60 surveyed. QA was mid-table with Emirates and Etihad in the top 10. What makes an airline especially safe to travel with? Safety is always a high priority for us. The airline made history in 2003 when it became the first airline in the world to pass IATA’s new, stringent IOSA safety audit with 100% compliance – and we have continued to pass the audit with full compliance ever since. Audits are carried out regularly, and we at QA take great pride in ensuring we have 100% compliance with safety and security procedures. What is Qatar Airways’ stand on Boeing 787, given the fact that you have ordered 55 of them? Will you be going ahead with the order? Safety remains the number one priority for QA. We ensure all our aircraft meet the most stringent safety standards and this
will not be compromised in any way. We are actively working with Boeing and the regulators to restore full customer confidence in the 787. Qatar Airways will resume 787 operations when we are clear that the aircraft meets the full requirements of the airworthiness directive. So we are not flying the aircraft until such time as this is achieved. The Dreamliner is a wonderful state-ofthe-art aircraft, with a revolutionary design and environmental credentials, and we are confident that once the issues are resolved we will continue to operate the aircraft. With three hubs in close proximity, what will make customers favour QA and HIA over the others? Do you believe in following the numbers game? We do not believe in the numbers game, but truly strive to offer the best levels of worldclass service to our customers. As the airport operator and main airline user of HIA, Qatar Airways will ensure that the airport experience surpasses expectations in operational excellence and customer experience, and strive to be the best aviation hub in the world. This is a world-class, iconic
airport that is set to open, creating great new benchmarks in design, structure and experience. We look forward to welcoming the world through this wonderful new gateway. Today, the airline has orders for over 250 aircraft worth more than QR182 billion ($50 billion). What are its procurement plans for the next couple of years? We continue to grow with clear strategic objectives. Right now, we are looking forward to moving operations to a brand new airport, and we look forward to taking delivery of a brand new fleet of aircraft that includes the Airbus A380 superjumbo from next year, and developing our route and aircraft numbers even more. You have stated that only 18% of your customers are local. Does that mean they will be at a disadvantage? Qatar Airways and most airlines from the Middle East follow the hub-and-spoke business model for their route networks. With a relatively small population base in our