Qatar Airways’ expansion plans are on target and the airline has had no negative impact from the global economic downturn, chief executive officer Akbar Al Baker said.

The airline has been able to achieve double digit growth despite the economic crisis and “it is a bright star in the horizon amidst the gloom in the industry,” Al Baker said.

Every economic downturn throws up new opportunities and Qatar Airways has been able grab these opportunities and turn them into its advantage, he said.

Al Baker, speaking at a press conference held on the sidelines of the BITE 2010 exhibition in Bahrain, reinforced the airline’s long-term commitment to growth with continued investment in new aircraft, new routes and improving airport infrastructure ahead of next year’s opening of the New Doha International Airport.

“We are looking forward with excitement to the month of June, which will see three new routes being added to our network. This will bring our number of routes to over 90 spread across six continents,” he said.

The airline has so far launched four new routes from its Doha hub this year – Bengaluru (Bangalore), Copenhagen, Ankara and Tokyo – with a further three, Barcelona, Sao Paulo and Buenos Aires, set to begin next month.

Commencing June 7, daily flights to Barcelona will be added to the airline’s network, supporting existing scheduled services to the Spanish capital Madrid and reinforcing Qatar Airways position as the only Gulf carrier currently flying to Spain, he said.

From June 24, Qatar Airways will fly daily to South America’s two largest cities – Sao Paulo in Brazil and Buenos Aires in Argentina – operated with the carrier’s flagship Boeing 777 wide body aircraft.

The airline is also implementing an extensive frequency and capacity upgradation programme, he said.

Meanwhile, the airline’s first Boeing 777 freighter will arrive in Qatar tomorrow, he said. 
Supported by the arrival of more than one new aircraft a month, and the opening of a brand new airline-owned airport hotel and new arrivals terminal in Doha, Qatar Airways’ expansion is forging ahead with vigour, he said.

Qatar Airways is showcasing its award-winning Boeing 777 long-haul Business Class seat at BITE, as well as promoting its new routes for 2010.

The airline currently operates a modern fleet of 82 aircraft. The fleet size is set to rise to 120 aircraft by 2013 and destinations served increase to 120 over the next three years. The airline has orders for more than 200 aircraft pending delivery worth over $40 billion.

Al Baker said the airline will not keep in service aircraft which are more than five years old in service. Such aircraft will be transferred to a leasing company, he said. – TradeArabia News Service