Qatar Airways CEO Akbar Al Baker has warned that the airline will re-consider flying to the Maldives if airport operator GMR goes ahead with plans to raise airport handling fees at Ibrahim Nasir International Airport (INIA) by 51 percent.
The Gulf state’s flagship carrier said it was “dismayed” to learn of the Male International Airport operator’s plan, adding that the increase would “threaten Qatar Airways’ continued presence in the Maldives.”
Al Baker said in a statement published by the Maldives-based Minivan News that the planned increases were “totally unreasonable”.
“The Maldives economy is wholly based on tourism. If we or any other major player withdraws services because of these unwarranted and draconian measures, it will be the people of the Maldives who will lose out, affecting their livelihoods as they rely heavily on the tourism industry,” he said.
“My message to the Maldives authorities is to think rationally about the future prosperity of your tourism industry. These steps may have not been thought through seriously by the airport operator and I urge them to think again.”
GMR spokesman Amir Ali told Minivan News that the fee hike had already been made by the Maldives Airport Company Ltd (MACL) shortly before GMR assumed control of the airport.
He added that while there were no plans for a further increase at present, prices were dependent on factors such as fuel prices.
“I believe the fee was increased because of the rise in fuel prices, but I’m not sure since the decision was made by MACL some time ago,” Ali said.
He said GMR had received no official communication from Qatar Airways.
Qatar Airways, half-owned by sovereign wealth fund Qatar Investment Authority, bought a 35 percent stake in freight carrier Cargolux Airlines International last year.
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