AIRLINES-IATA/QATAR AIRWAYS Qatar Airways CEO sees no need for concessions to U.S. airlines

Record ID: 150529

  • Title: AIRLINES-IATA/QATAR AIRWAYS Qatar Airways CEO sees no need for concessions to U.S. airlines
  • Date: 9th June 2015
  • Summary: MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, UNITED STATES (JUNE 8, 2015) (REUTERS) ***WARNING CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** WIDE OF CONFERENCE DELEGATES QATAR AIRWAYS CEO AKBAR AL BAKER SITTING FOR INTERVIEW (SOUNDBITE) (English) QATAR AIRWAYS CEO, AKBAR AL BAKER, SAYING: "There is nothing wrong with what we are doing. We are developing an airline to serve the economic needs of my country and w
  • Embargoed: 24th June 2015 13:00
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  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVA28G836A4RYPWDLMDVP0EBMHE3
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: In an interview with Reuters at the International Air Transport Association (IATA) annual meeting in Miami Beach, Qatar Airways Chief Executive Akbar Al Baker said there is no need to change previously agreed upon government transportation policies.
    "Why should my government make any concession?" he said. "There is an agreement signed by two mature governments. And those agreements are being implemented."
    U.S. airlines are trying to persuade their government to alter the "Open Skies" agreements with the United Arab Emirates and Qatar, accusing them of lavishing their airlines with more than $40 billion in subsidies and distorting competition. Emirates, Etihad Airways and Qatar Airways deny the subsidy claims.
    "There is nothing wrong with what we are doing. We are developing an airline to serve the economic needs of my country," Al Baker said.
    Earlier in the day, Al Baker called for the aviation industry's largest trade group to address protectionism, hitting back against U.S. airlines campaigning to restrict what they say is heavily subsidized competition from Gulf carriers.
    Following Al Baker's comments, IATA Director General Tony Tyler said the body was in favor of liberalization. IATA has said it has no mandate to formally act on the issue.
    While U.S. carriers like American and Delta Air Lines Inc have closed ranks on the issue, others, like global cargo carrier FedEx Corp and Emirates codeshare partner JetBlue Airways Corp. have stood up for the Open Skies agreements, voicing concern that changes would set a bad precedent.
    But Germany's Lufthansa, whose business on routes to Asia have been hurt by competition from the Gulf carriers, echoed Delta and American's concerns on Sunday.
    In the wake of the FIFA scandal with allegations of bribery that could potentially strip Qatar as host of the World Cup in 2022, Al Baker said a decision either way would not affect the airline.
    "Issues with FIFA are not my business and it doesn't affect airlines business," he said.
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