Qatar Airways budget airline contingency plan

Qatar Airways’ boss has revealed that the airline has a low-cost carrier action plan, including a test plane, that it can put into place within three months if the budget arm of the industry starts to threaten sales.

Speaking at a travel conference in Dubai on Tuesday airline CEO Akbar Al Baker said the carrier felt no threat from low-cost airlines at present.

The future of the industry lay in business and premium economy class, and the airline was carrying on with its expansion plans within this market, he said.

However, Al Baker added that if Qatar Airways started to feel a threat from budget airlines it had plans in place that meant it could launch a rival within 90 days.

“If we find low cost is becoming a threat, in 90 days Qatar Airways can launch a competitive product. We are completely prepared, we already have a test plane that is flying about under the guise of a full service aircraft,” he said.

The airline announced at Arab Travel Market 2009 that it will start flying to six new destinations in the next 10 months.

These include routes to Goa and Amristar in India, Sydney and Melbourne and two other, as yet unnamed, cities in Europe.

But Al Baker added: “I am not satisfied with six destinations - we will keep on expanding our flights.”

In a statement the carrier added that its fleet would grow to over 110 planes by 2013, from around 68 now, and would increase its routes to 120 in five years from 84 now.

"Whatever is happening around the world will not affect our growth plans. We are committed and remain committed to growth and all our expansion is pressing ahead on schedule," Al Baker said in the statement.

Long term, Qatar Airways has placed orders for more than 200 aircraft worth a total of $40bn.

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