Qatar Airways looking to be big in America

The rapidly expanding airline will take its total number of destinations to 77 when it embarks on its US route expansion programme on June 28 with four flights a week between Doha and Newark International Airport, via Geneva, followed by daily non-stop services linking the Qatari capital with Washington DC, from July 19. Qatar Airways has already launched five other destinations this year, namely Dar es Salaam, Lagos, Chennai, Bali and Ho Chi Minh City, but Al Baker described the upcoming 'historic' American offering as the 'biggest route launches of the year'.

Diplomatic over delays

But while Al Baker was excited at the prospect of the new routes becoming key selling destinations for the airline, he did concede that obtaining approval for the US flights, which were originally slated for January 2007, was not so straightforward.

'It is not easy getting approval from the US and being an Arab carrier makes it harder. So that it why we have had the delay, as the US authorities have their procedures. But other airlines are also hampered by the regulatory process.

'We must not blame the US, they had a terrible experience with 9/11 and they need to be careful. All countries have concerns at the volatile nature of terrorism. But it's true they are very stringent.'

Al Baker also alluded to the fact that further regulatory wrangles in Switzerland were a major factor behind the airline's initial schedule of four flights a week to Newark International Airport via Geneva. He did say, however, that this route will be stepped up to a daily service next year. But with regard to the various obstacles faced in securing such routes, he predicted however that, with the level of growth taking place in the Gulf, as well as in Asia, Western democracies would soon have to start 'answering our needs'.

Maximising returns

To publicise the new US route launches, QR has already begun a major media campaign across English and Arabic newspapers in the GCC region, featuring iconic American images such as the White House and the Statue of Liberty.

The airline will also be endeavouring to make the most of its foothold in the US, once flights actually get underway, by utilising possible code share agreements to ensure that its initial points of entry can provide connections to many other additional US cities. Al Baker claimed Qatar Airways has understandings with several carriers with regard to accessing the wider US network, including Continental Airlines, Lufthansa and Virgin Atlantic.

But much closer to home, Al Baker also acknowledged the role Dubai plays as a major regional urban centre in boosting QR's load factors and generating revenue.

'Qatar Airways recognises the importance of key neighbouring markets like the UAE to feed traffic on to our network and I am pleased to announce that we are stepping up frequency on the Doha - Dubai route with an additional daily flight, taking our operation from seven to eight flights a day.'

Staying aggressive

Al Baker is determined that, aside from the new US services, the airline keeps growing swiftly in all its main markets. He pointed to increased and improved services to a number of Arab destinations, such as Tunisia, Libya, Algeria and Morocco, and blamed the constraints of aircraft delivery schedules for any apparent tardiness in the carrier's expansion programme.

He also said that, dependent upon Airbus delivering enough aircraft, Qatar Airways may launch a total of 11 new routes this year, rather than the planned nine, and it was determined to maintain any equally aggressive growth policy next year.

But while QR and local rivals such as Etihad and Emirates ponder extra routes and huge orders for new aircraft, Al Baker did strike a surprising note of caution for the likes of Air Arabia, Jazeera Airways and any other potential low cost carriers looking for a sizeable slice of the action in the Middle East market.

'In the Middle East, there is room for growth for the existing carriers but maybe not room for extra carriers to come into the region. Our region is not compatible with low-cost carriers in my opinion and, longer term, I think there will need to be some painful decisions made.'