Al Baker takes the Qatar growth message to the USA

Qatar Airways chief Akbar Al Baker says his Doha-headquartered airline has raised the bar by investing while others cut back and believes that the slump that has affected the world airline industry is short-term.

Al Baker (right) with US billionaire Donald Trump

He took his argument to the very heart of the industry-depression, speaking in New York City at a special event to conclude the official opening of three major representative offices across the USA.

The opening of the offices in Washington, DC, Houston and New York City, drew wide interest from the US aviation, business, and travel media, as well as the business community in each city, as Qatar Airways reinforced its move to strengthen and grow its presence in the American market.

Since launching its first US destination two years ago, Qatar Airways has experienced robust growth and expansion in the North American market. “We are completely committed to growing our presence and raising the service bar, not only in the United States, but throughout our global network,” said Al Baker.

“This means continued investment in people and in infrastructure as we are seeing in our new offices across the US. The American travelling public is very demanding and very deserving and, rest assured, we deliver what we promise, being focused on delivering best levels of service.”

The New York City ceremony was attended by airline officials, aviation industry personnel and a host of local VIPs, including the internationally known business tycoon Donald Trump and his daughter Ivanka Trump, together with Salem Al-Shafi, Charge D’Affaires of the Permanent Mission of the State of Qatar to the United Nations. Located on the 22nd floor of the famed Trump Tower at 725 Fifth Avenue, Al Baker added that the new office demonstrated Qatar Airways’ commitment to excellent customer service, making it easier for business and leisure travellers to book their flights across Qatar Airways’ global network, which spans 82 destinations.

“We made the decision to strategically locate our office in the heart of New York City to make it easily accessible for business and leisure passengers to make their travel arrangements,” Al Baker explained.

“Our offices are staffed by trained, dedicated and courteous professionals who are prepared to help with any travel request. Our on-the-ground customer service experience is as remarkable as our award-winning in-flight Five Star experience, which means excellence in all that we do with exceptional attention to detail.”

Qatar Airways’ foray into the United States began with its New York launch in June 2007. In October last year, Qatar Airways switched its one-stop, four-weekly flights from Newark to JFK International Airport and introduced its state-of-the-art Boeing 777 aircraft on the route to cater for increased passenger demand.


The March launch of its third US route to Houston was further evidence of Qatar Airways’ goal to identify US markets with business potential, as well as travel synergies in line with its international growth plans.

Moreover, the Doha – Houston route marked the start of a year of growth that will see Qatar Airways add six new destinations over the next few months, further expanding its global network and going against the current cost-cutting trend in the airline industry.

“While many of our industry peers are scaling back in every area of their operation, Qatar Airways is doing the exact opposite. We remain cost conscious, but in no way will we compromise on service and excellence that we have been focused on over the past 12 years since our launch. What is happening now in the world around us is a short-term situation,” added Al Baker.

“At Qatar Airways, we are not a short-term operator that makes radical changes to business practices because of market conditions. Qatar Airways is in it for the long term, continuing to grow with a realistic, aggressive expansion plan.

”We look forward to the next few months with further expansion that will see new aircraft joining the fleet at an average of one a month and new routes added to our growing network.”

With a growing fleet – more than 220 aircraft on order worth over US$40 billion – and a rapidly developing route network that will top 120 destinations in five years’ time, together with the construction of a brand new international airport in Doha, Al Baker stressed that Qatar Airways was operating in the Middle East as the only region in the world which had enjoyed double digit growth in recent months.