Qatar Airways welcomes global airport managers

As the airline is going through rapid expansion, the managers are being told of the challenges faced in an increasingly competitive market, both regionally and worldwide.

In accordance with guidelines set by the International Air Transport Association (IATA) - the aviation industry's governing body - Qatar Airways will, like many airlines, implement new ticketing procedures that will have implications on its entire route network.

Qatar Airways Chief Executive Officer Akbar Al Baker, addressing the conference in Doha, said the company faced many challenges over the next few years particularly in the way tickets are processed.

He said Qatar Airways was working on ticketless travel - passengers flying without a paper ticket - in line with guidelines set by IATA in which all airlines must go e-ticket by the end of 2007.

Ticketless, explained Al Baker, would provide greater benefits to the travelling public and make the company's processes more efficient. E-ticketing means tickets are held on the airline computer reservation system and passengers need only a booking reference number with ID for check-in and travel.

"We are on an aggressive growth path, expanding at a phenonmenal rate - new routes, more staff, additional aircraft. The pressure of meeting the challenges with new services and products, maintaining our standards, and exceeding passenger expectations is undoubtedly intense," said Al Baker.

"Our service levels have outperformed many of the world's established airlines, which are far, far bigger than us and have been around a lot longer than us.

"Being the first and the best is what we strive towards. If we maintain our high standards that we set our goals at, at the outset, it will pay off in the long run and we will be on course to become best airline in the world," he told delegates.

Qatar Airways general manager commercial, Mohamed Fakhri reviewed customer service issues and briefed managers on areas such as revenue and airport training.

Other issues being discussed at the conference include airport procedures such as check-in, customer service, lounge development, unruly passengers, airport catering and operational problems.

With Doha being developed as a regional and global hub, delegates are also being briefed on the new international airport being built on reclaimed land with work scheduled to begin in the New Year.

During the 2003/2004 financial year, Qatar Airways carried 3.3m passengers, up 35% on the previous 12-month period, and figures are projected to rise sharply in the current financial year to 4.5m.

Over the next few months, Qatar Airways will be adding new routes, including Seychelles, Osaka and Johannesburg, to its international network of 53 destinations, from its Doha hub.