Qatar Airways to double size by 2020

Abu Dhabi Qatar Airways aims to double its size by 2020, according to its chief executive. "At the speed we are growing, Qatar Airways by 2020 will be twice the size it is today," Akbar Al Baker, said yesterday while describing the airline's vision for 2020, at the Global Aerospace Summit being held in Abu Dhabi.

He added that the Doha-based airline will serve "at least two and a half times" the number of passengers it serves today. "And we will be a global player," said Al Baker.

With aircraft orders worth more than $50 billion (Dh183.6 billion) at present for more than 250 aircraft, including Boeing 787s, 777s, Airbus A350s, A380s and A320s, Qatar Airways is on an aggressive expansion spree. The airline currently flies to 113 destinations operating a fleet of 108 aircraft.

âEUR~Plans slipping'

Besides the planned 11 new routes to be launched this year, the airline also plans to double its US network by starting flights to Atlanta, Chicago, Boston and Detroit within the next year, as Al Baker reportedly said recently. "The only thing that stopped us from going earlier is the delayed delivery of the 787s," he stated. Once again lashing out at the planemakers, Al Baker said delays in plane deliveries will "stifle the growth opportunities" that the airlines in the Middle East have, and that it poses a huge challenge to the region's airlines, thereby preventing them from achieving their planned growth. He added that both Airbus and Boeing have "plans that are slipping".

Calling the European Union's ETS (emissions trading scheme) as the biggest possible challenge today for the airlines, Al Baker said: "It is a cover-up for the inefficiencies of the EU's management of its finances.

"This is only an indirect way of collecting more taxes - but I don't know what they will do with all this money - and to cover up the mismanagement that they have been having in their finances for the last couple of decades."

With China on way to becoming an aircraft manufacturing hub in the next 10-15 years, Qatar Airways CEO says he would be keen to look eastwards to buy planes.

"In the east if they make planes that are safe, efficient and state-of-the-art, and meet our requirements, there is nothing wrong with looking at [the] east for planes. If it suits our requirement, why should we not look at the east for airplanes?" he said.

He added that the "Chinese will compete with the existing plane manufacturers at a better price".