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Tribune News Network
Doha
Social distancing in planes is not necessary as long as precautions are taken, Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive Akbar Al Baker said on Wednesday.
“Social distancing in an airplane is not necessary, as long as precautions are taken such as masks, gloves, face shields and cabin crew wearing PPE,” Al Baker said in an interview with Britain's Sky News.
On resuming operations after COVID-19 lockdown end, he said, “I would like to get all of our route network back as soon as possible but we have priorities with 80 routes identified and we will start them as soon as lockdowns come to an end.”
He said, “We defeated the blockade in a big way, we grew extensively and more than the airlines from blockading countries. We were very resilient and kept our chin up, while meeting the economic requirements of our country.”
Al Baker said Qatar Airways will not take any new planes ordered from Boeing or Airbus in 2020 or 2021.
There would be a knock-on effect on future deliveries due to the coronavirus pandemic, he added.
“Quite a lot of [deliveries] will be deferred. We have already notified both Boeing and Airbus that we will not be taking any aeroplanes this year or next year,” he added.
“All the other aircraft that we have on order that were supposed to be delivered to us within the next two or three years, will now be pushed back to as long as nearly eight to 10 years.”
Al Baker repeated a warning to the plane makers that a refusal to comply with the airline’s request could jeopardise future business between them.
“If they don’t oblige to our requirements, (then) we will have to review our long term business relationships with them,” he said, adding the airline no longer needed the 30 firm orders for Boeing’s 737 MAX it had placed.
“We have already informed Boeing that we will have to replace them with some other type of aeroplanes ... we will not require any more of the 737 MAXs.”
Al Baker also said Qatar Airways would continue to support British Airways owner IAG after increasing its stake in the airline group in February.
“It is a strategic investment. We will continue to be an investor in IAG,” he said. “If it is necessary, yes, we will inject equity into IAG.”
Doha
Social distancing in planes is not necessary as long as precautions are taken, Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive Akbar Al Baker said on Wednesday.
“Social distancing in an airplane is not necessary, as long as precautions are taken such as masks, gloves, face shields and cabin crew wearing PPE,” Al Baker said in an interview with Britain's Sky News.
On resuming operations after COVID-19 lockdown end, he said, “I would like to get all of our route network back as soon as possible but we have priorities with 80 routes identified and we will start them as soon as lockdowns come to an end.”
He said, “We defeated the blockade in a big way, we grew extensively and more than the airlines from blockading countries. We were very resilient and kept our chin up, while meeting the economic requirements of our country.”
Al Baker said Qatar Airways will not take any new planes ordered from Boeing or Airbus in 2020 or 2021.
There would be a knock-on effect on future deliveries due to the coronavirus pandemic, he added.
“Quite a lot of [deliveries] will be deferred. We have already notified both Boeing and Airbus that we will not be taking any aeroplanes this year or next year,” he added.
“All the other aircraft that we have on order that were supposed to be delivered to us within the next two or three years, will now be pushed back to as long as nearly eight to 10 years.”
Al Baker repeated a warning to the plane makers that a refusal to comply with the airline’s request could jeopardise future business between them.
“If they don’t oblige to our requirements, (then) we will have to review our long term business relationships with them,” he said, adding the airline no longer needed the 30 firm orders for Boeing’s 737 MAX it had placed.
“We have already informed Boeing that we will have to replace them with some other type of aeroplanes ... we will not require any more of the 737 MAXs.”
Al Baker also said Qatar Airways would continue to support British Airways owner IAG after increasing its stake in the airline group in February.
“It is a strategic investment. We will continue to be an investor in IAG,” he said. “If it is necessary, yes, we will inject equity into IAG.”
