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Aviation History
1999
1999 - 0895.PDF
AJIi fSiAttZPVJif The A320 is spearheading Qatar's short haul fleet revolution, replacing 727s will initially supplement the leased aircraft when they arrive in 2001, providing capacity growth. The SALE aircraft are to be returned in 2004. These will be replaced by the airline's own optioned A320s, so that ultimately the airline's single-aisle fleet will grow to 11 aircraft. As a private airline, the identity of Qatar's ownership is obscure as is its financial results are not publicly available. Shareholders are under stood to include members of the Qatari royal family - who are also senior government officials - and certain business interests. At the time of launch, it was reported that 80% of die airline was owned by private individuals and the remaining 20% equally by two Qatari compa nies. A move from a private to a public sharehold ing company has been discussed. That change seems to be close, with the government poised to take a majority stake. The formal move into government control will ensure that the carrier has sufficient funding for the expansion it must undertake to achieve its goals, says Al-Baker. It will also help the airline with its route applica tions, as it plays second fiddle to Qatar's incum bent designated flag carrier, Gulf Air. Bilaterals with certain countries only permit one "desig nated" carrier from each side to operate a route, which Al-Baker says has blocked Qatar from entering certain markets in the past. With the narrowbody fleet revamp finalised, Al-Baker has turned his attention to the long- haul sector. Negotiations are under way to add a fourth A300 in the second half of this year, while the three existing aircraft are to have new interiors with improved seating and inflight entertainment equipment. LONG-TERM STRATEGY In the longer term, Al-Baker sees the need for up to six 260/290-seaters in the Airbus A3 30- 200/Boeing 767-400ER category, and plans to run a competition between the manufacturers. He envisages a direct order being placed with the manufacturer and deliveries beginning in about three years. Al-Baker says the airline is considering an interim lease deal to enable larg er aircraft to be delivered earlier. Qatar came close to a deal with International Lease Finance late last year for two secondhand A3 30s, but decided that the ex-Malaysia Airlines aircraft, being larger -300 models, represented too big a capacity jump from the A300s at that time. Like the A3 20s, the initial batch of 2 60-seaters will be used as growth aircraft, supplementing the A300s. Although there are only three years left on the A300 leases, Al-Baker says he has extension options which will boost their reten tion beyond 2002. "We want to progress slowly, strongly and efficiently," says Al-Baker, who does not envisage the fleet growing beyond 15 aircraft. Qatar operates frequent services to 19 desti nations in Europe, the Arabian peninsula and the Indian subcontinent from its Doha hub. Additional destinations await the award of traffic rights. The airline serves two European cities, London and Munich (the latter service also car rying a Lufthansa code). More routes are under study, as are potential destinations in Asia. Al- Baker says this could be achieved by expanding FLIGHT INTERNATIONAL 7 - 13 April 1999 39
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