Qatar’s Al Baker Says Lufthansa Drove Them Away from Star Alliance
Qatar Airways CEO Akbar Al Baker
Qatar Airway’s CEO Akbar Al Baker said that they were considering joining Star Alliance until Lufthansa proved to be hostile to the growth of Persian Gulf carriers.
Al Baker said in an interview in London:
“My first code-share with a European carrier was with Lufthansa, but unfortunately their strategy is to kill competition,” he said. “It is to shun Gulf carriers, and I think they have lost in this very lucrative alliance chess game.”
Qatar signed up to join oneworld last week after overtures from British Airways. Qatar is expected to become a member within 18 months.
“Oneworld saw the synergies between their network and us,” Al Baker said. “They wanted a strong airline in the Gulf Cooperation Council that will give them immediate huge access to the Middle East and beyond. We fitted into this requirement and a few months ago we received an invitation and we accepted it.”
Qatar Air, the second-biggest unattached airline, was won for Oneworld one month after Qantas Airways Ltd. (QAN) of Australia ended a 17-year tie-up with BA in favor of a deal with Dubai- based Emirates, the top Middle Eastern carrier, and on the same day that Walsh’s European rival Air France-KLM Group (AF) agreed to start code-sharing with Gulf No. 3 Etihad Airways of Abu Dhabi.
Category: Airnation
