Qatar Airways CEO Akbar Al Baker, never at a loss for words, has argued pilots of Ryanair flight 4978 made a “fundamental error” by flying to Minsk instead of continuing to Vilnius. He called the episode a “hijacking” and...
Qatar Airways CEO Mocks British Airways: The Power Of Shame
Sometimes shaming is a powerful tool to move others toward corrective action. I admire what Qatar Airways CEO Akbar Al Baker set out to accomplish in powerfully shaming British Airways. Qatar Airways CEO Shames British Airways Qatar Airways owns...
Qatar Airways CEO: “There Is No Future For A380”
Sam Chui recently sat down with H.E. Akbar Al Baker, the CEO of Qatar Airways. The interview touched on many topics, but discussion on the future of the A380 caught my attention. Al Baker is clear: he sees no...
UPDATE: Airbus Downplays Composite Cracks On A350
Yesterday, I noted a report suggesting composite cracks had been discovered on a Qatar Airways A350. Now Airbus has refuted that report and claimed the A350 fuselage cracking was “superficial” and “cosmetic” in nature. Airbus: No Composite Cracks On...
Qatar Airways A Big Winner As Gulf Blockade Ends
The 2017 Gulf Blockade is over, with Qatar Airways a huge beneficiary of this diplomatic breakthrough. Gulf Blockade Over, A Win For Qatar Airways Raising alarm over an increasingly cozy relationship between Qatar and Iran, several Gulf nations enacted...
Uh-Oh: Qatar Airways Reportedly Finds Cracks On A350 Composite Fuselage
Composite cracks were reportedly found on the fuselage of a four-year old Qatar Airways Airbus A350-900 undergoing a new paint job in Ireland. A stabilizer issue was also discovered. It will now be ferried to Airbus headquarters for further...
Qatar Airways Teases New First Class Suites On 777-9
Qatar Airways has hinted that its new Boeing 777-9 aircraft may have an exclusive four-seat first class cabin. As more carriers move away from first class, will Qatar Airways invest in a luxurious new product? Qatar Airways 777-9 First...
Qatar Apologizes For Illegal Airport Searches After Initial Non-Apology
After initially defending its actions, Qatar has apologized for subjecting women from at least 10 flights to deeply invasive physical exams in search of evidence surrounding the attempted murder of a baby girl. How should we weigh the apology...
Was Qatar Justified In Strip Searching Female Passengers After After Baby Found Abandoned In Airport Bathroom?
An airport cleaning crew found a premature baby abandoned in a bathroom at Doha’s Hamad International Airport. Acting quickly, authorities attempted to locate the mother. The result: international outrage over an invasive strip search of at least 13 female...
Qatar Airways CEO: “The Worst Is Not Behind Any Airline”
The ever-animated CEO of Qatar Airways is back, this time with a dire warning for the airline industry. Qatar Airways CEO Warns Of Grim Future For Worldwide Airline Industry Speaking on CNBC, Qatar Airways CEO Akbar Al Baker warned:...
Is Qatar Airways Forcing People To Buy Business Class Seats If They Want To Travel To Australia?
Australia currently caps international arrivals at 50 passengers per flight, no matter how large the aircraft is. This has created a potential business opportunity for Qatar Airways (and every other airline serving Australia): buy business class or stay behind…...
Qatar Airways CEO Attacks British Prime Minister, Denounces Onboard Social Distancing
Akbar Al Baker, CEO of Qatar Airways, has a problem with social distancing and UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson. The eccentric CEO is never one to mince words… Qatar Airways’ Al Baker on Prime Minster Johnson Speaking to Sky...
Qatar Airways Threatens To Sever Business With Airbus And Boeing
Qatar Airways’ Chief Akbar Al Baker has a warning for Airbus and Boeing: allow us to defer orders or we will never do business with you again. Qatar Airways Has Many Aircraft On Orders Despite a young fleet, COVID-19,...
Anywhere In The World In Business Class For $1639? Of Course It Was Too Good To Be True…
Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me. The bottom line is this: I am not making any speculative Qatar Airways bookings after Qatar changed the terms of its very lucrative flexible ticket policy. An...
A Lovely Dinner In Qatar Airways Business Class
Each week, my Meal of the Week feature examines an airline meal from my travels over the years. This may be a meal from earlier in the week or it may be a meal served over a decade ago. My favorite...
First Class Brunch Showdown: Emirates Vs. Etihad Vs. Qatar Airways
Each week, my Meal of the Week feature examines an airline meal from my travels over the years. This may be a meal from earlier in the week or it may be a meal served over a decade ago. How about...
Hot Deal: Qatar Airways Qsuites From USA
While now is not the ideal time to book travel, I cannot help but to mention an incredible Qatar Airways fare sale going on now. Fly Qatar Airways Qsuites For Under $1700 R/T From New York Or Philadelphia To...
Delta Should Think Twice Before Dancing On Air Italy’s Grave
You can bet that there was euphoria in the C-Suites of Delta Air Lines over the news of Air Italy’s collapse. But the untimely demise of Air Italy does not excuse Delta of hypocrisy nor validate its longstanding protest...
Qatar Airways Accelerates Investment In Africa
Qatar Airways sees tremendous growth opportunity in Africa and has responded by picking a strategic hub: Kigali, Rwanda. Now Qatar Airways wants to invest in Rwanda’s national airline. Bugesera International Airport in Kigali is set to open in 2022,...
Qatar Airways Would Ditch Oneworld For Lufthansa Partnership
When it comes his relationship with oneworld, Qatar Airways’ Chief Akbar Al-Baker acts like a victim. He’s quick to cry foul and threaten to leave, but never follows through on his threat. And yet his charges are largely delusional and...
