Envisioning progress and success is one thing, achieving it in an established time-plan is quite another. Hence it is particularly remarkable how Qatar Airways’ ceo Akbar Al Baker has managed to transform this airline into one of the aviation industry’s strongest players.
For a country with a population of just one million people, it must be the source of great national pride that the carrier flies almost 8 million passengers a year. Furthermore it continues to record 40 per cent year-on-year passenger growth making it one of the world's fastest growing airlines. And by 2013 it will operate a fleet of 110 aircraft - doubling the existing number.
It has been twelve years since Al Baker took charge, and through his tough management style, clever marketing tactics and compelling passenger loyalty schemes, he has helped position Qatar Airways as a luxury airline of choice. Indeed, Qatar Airways is one of only six airlines in the world with a Five Star ranking for service and excellence awarded by Skytrax, the independent aviation industry monitoring agency.
Yet if rumours of the company being unprofitable continue to hinder Al Baker’s achievements hitherto, you could easily say that, given the massive investments underway, it seems they are of no concern. In any case the genuine financials will only be brought before public scrutiny once the company is ready to be floated. And that will not likely happen until the early part of next decade, when the company is out of the red.
Unexpectedly Al Baker is a seasoned pilot and prior to his appointment as ceo of Qatar Airways, Al Baker worked with the Civil Aviation Directorate of Qatar. Yet steering a clear course in such turbulent economic times especially with such massive outlays is certainly no easy task. But with his original vision, everything from the logo, to awards, upgrades, terminals and services was rethought. As a result, he was able to drag this once below-par airline to the position it enjoys today. Under his command Qatar Airways is definitely a force to be reckoned with.
Ceo Akbar Al Baker
Company Qatar Airways
Timeline Qatar Airways was founded in November 1993, Al Baker started in November 1996.
Why Took a small local airline and turned it into a highly acclaimed international aviation role model that flies to over 80 destinations.
HYPERLINK "http://www.qatarairways.com" www.qatarairways.com
