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Qatar Air to buy 60 more aircraft

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2005

MUMBAI: Qatar Airways is in talks with Airbus Industries and Boeing for the acquisition of 60 more aircraft which would increase the number of its aircraft to 110 by the year 2016.

"We are in talks with Airbus and Boeing for deliveries of aircraft between 2008-2014, and these would be deployed in the existing route-network of the airline," Qatar Airways Chief Executive Officer Akbar Al Baker told reporters here on Friday.

The company is also looking at cost-cutting measures, which include increasing outsourcing functions to India. However, he declined to divulge on the outsourcing plans, as these were "sensitive in nature".

On the airline's global passenger load, he said it expected to increase to 4.5 million in the current fiscal from the earlier 3.5 million passengers ferried during the 12-month period of the previous fiscal.

Commenting on the low-cost airline models, he said these would not work in long term as they would be under a "huge pressure" to deliver.

Taking advantage of the limited 'open sky' policy, the UAE carrier had increased its services from 19 to 51 till March 31 this year and is operating to and from Mumbai, Hyderabad, Kochi and Thiruvananthapuram.

It is planning to launch cargo services to Bangalore and is looking at operating passenger services to two new Indian destinations whenever bilateral agreement between the two nations is reviewed.