Qatar Airways rules out all-economy flights to India, Pakistan

Qatar Airways has ruled out the possibility of an all-economy flight to India and/or Pakistan weeks ahead of the carrier launching its all-business route to London Heathrow.

CEO Akbar Al Baker also confirmed that the 100 per cent government-owned Qatar Airways was interested in a deal with low-cost carrier IndiGo Airlines, either as a partnership or a purchasing a stake in the Indian operation.

Speaking at the ongoing Arabian Travel Market in Dubai, Al Baker also said the Doha-based carrier may increase its A380 order book “in the not too distant future”, which currently stands at 13 aircraft, three of which are optional.

“By 2015, we will have a fleet of 170 aircraft; our order book is very aggressive,” he said. As the first buyers of the A350s, Qatar Airways is expected to receive its first delivery by year-end, which Al Baker said should “hopefully be more than one.”

Talking about the A380-800s, he continued: “Depending on the economic benefits we get from the introduction of the A380s, Qatar Airways will order more in the not too distant future.”

Al Baker said three of the confirmed planes will be delivered over a 30-day period, with the first aircraft set to be deployed from June 17 on the Doha-Heathrow route.

Meanwhile, the airline is launching its all-business flights on May 15 on the same route.

Al Baker said: “The all-business class daily service to Heathrow will launch in the middle of month with 36 seats in two cabins. The flight will land at Heathrow’s Terminal 4.”

When quizzed about whether the airline would consider an all-economy flight into the Asian subcontinent, with countries such as India and Pakistan as a target market, Al Baker denied it would happen in the near future.

He said: “No, at the moment there are no such plans. There is big demand for premium travel right now to introduce this business model.”

However, Al Baker was also vocal about the dipping demand for first class travel.

He explained: “We are here to make profit. And there is low demand for first class.

“Earlier, who travelled first class? It was the high net worth individuals and the business clientele. After 2008 crash, companies have reinvented their strategy on executive travel.

“With load factors of 40 per cent on first class, we decided to bring business class as a first class product.”

When quizzed about Etihad Aiways’ new premium class segment earlier this week with the three-room suite Residences and the First Apartments being introduced with the carrier by end of this year, Al Baker stated: “I am glad Etihad has launched this product. Gulf carriers are raising the ante.”

As a member of the One World Alliance, Al Baker did not rule out revenue sharing deals with future partners.

He said: “Once we have concluded our deals with Cathay Pacific and British Airways on revenue sharing, then roll out with other One World partners.”

Quizzed whether Qatar Airways was looking to form an alliance with Indian carriers such as SpiceJet or IndiGo, Al Baker said the airline was interested.

“We will always be interested in a good opportunity that is win-win for both partners. We are very interested in IndiGo if there is something available. However, the shareholders are doing very well there so they have no need to sell,” he said.

Al Baker, meanwhile, also announced that the carrier, which was 100 per cent bought out by Qatar government in July 2013, would also be announcing its financials before Q3 2014.

He said: “We are a very profitable airline. The State of Qatar is 100 per cent owner. Once the last financial year audit completes, we will announce the profitability before Q3.”

Speaking further about its expansion plans in the near future, the CEO also revealed the airline was considering flights to Sydney, while increasing capacity to Perth to an A350 next year.

The airline executive also confirmed the carrier was bullish on a US expansion. “In the US alone, in six months we are adding three new destinations, thus increasing our capacity by 50 per cent. After Philadelphia, we are launching to Miami on June 10 and Dallas Forth Worth from July 1.”

He continued: “Our growth was blocked by capacity of our current airport with huge space constraints. And expansion is not just airport, but how fast aircraft delivered.

“With the opening of the new Hamad International Airport (HIA) in Doha, it has all changed; it is currently designed for 30 million passengers. This capacity can be raised up to 45m passengers.

“We will embark on the final phase across 2.5 years of HIA expansion with tendering beginning next year and work completing in 24-30 months. That will take design capacity to 50m but it can go up to 80m passengers.”

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