Tribune News Network
Doha
Qatar Airways (QA) Group Chief Executive Akbar Al Baker has reiterated that the airline industry will bounce back from this COVID-19 crisis.
“My biggest priority is to have an airline that reflects the culture and hospitality of my country. I am fully confident that the airline industry will bounce back,” Al Baker said in a live interview with Air Transport Weekly on Tuesday.
Providing insights into how the airline industry can best survive the global pandemic, he said, “I am confident that people will get more and more comfortable and confident with the strides the scientific community is making in combating this terrible disease. People will be able to enjoy the hospitality we provide at the Hamad International Airport (HIA) by travelling Qatar Airways.”
On aviation numbers returning to 2019 levels, the QA boss said, “Not for the next three to five years. It will just be a miracle if the figures will go back to the 2019 levels in this period of time.”
Al Baker said, “We had planned to launch a number of destinations on July 1, but due to constant extensions of airport closures and NOTAMs we had to settle on relaunching 11 destinations.”
On the need for standardisation of regulations required for travelling during this period, he said, “I think the World Health Organisation (WHO) should print a health certificate by which you will be required to have a COVID-19 test 72 hours prior to the departure.”
