Qatar Airways maintains double digit growth - CEO

RECESSION PROOF: Qatar Airways has said its load factor has reduced by only 2 percent during the global slowdown.

Qatar Airways has maintained a double digit growth in business during the global economic slowdown, its CEO has said.

CEO Akbar Al-Baker said the carrier's load factor had reduced by just two percent while airlines globally have seen major hits in the past year.

He added that the airline had taken a decision not to unduly focus on first-class seats as premium travel had suffered in the downturn.

“The demand for first-class seats has certainly come down because of the recession. However, there are many takers for our business class seats,” he said in comments published by Gulf Times on Tuesday.

Sepaking at the Doha Aviation Summit, he added: “Our load factor has come down by only 2% because of the global economic turbulence. We still maintain a double-digit growth, though the rate is lower than that of last year."

Early this year, the airline decided to overhaul its A340s by removing their first-class lounge. The airline cited "low usage" for removing the first-class lounge, which will provide room for more seats in the economy class, the paper reported.

Al-Baker told the paper: “We will balance capacity with growth. We will continue to add routes and expand our fleet. But we will be prudent in whatever we do."

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READERS' COMMENTS

Double digit growth - but at what cost?
Posted by Afridi, Dubai, UAE on Tuesday 27 October 2009 at 19:52 UAE time


GCC carriers have always been blamed for using government subsidies/unfair competition. And nowhere is it more true than in the case of Qatar Airways. 10 years after their relaunch, they still need to show a profit.

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