Qatar Airways CEO Akbar Al Baker stepping down
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at 15:50 by AMcWhirter.
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AMcWhirterParticipantIt’s understood that Qatar Airways CEO Akbar Al Baker will be leaving the airline effective November 5.
The 61-year old aviation boss has been with thos airline for 27 years.
We can expect to see changes at the Doha-based airline.
Maybe its A380s will remain in service for longer than intended.
Maybe we will see Qatar Airways finally jump on the premium economy bandwagon.
More news to follow.
4 users thanked author for this post.
23 Oct 2023
at 13:19
MarkivJParticipantHe definitely was a bit of a marmite personality wasn’t he? Some Qatar residents say he put the country on the aviation map whilst some think of him as an absolute diva
3 users thanked author for this post.
23 Oct 2023
at 14:06
sparkyflierParticipantVery interesting. In addition to how QR may change I wonder what the impact on Oneworld will be? He was in addition to QR CEO “head” of the alliance and was eager to get new members.
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23 Oct 2023
at 14:06
AMcWhirterParticipantStill no offical confirmation from the airline (at time of writing.
But the news is circulating. Both Bloomberg and Reuters has reported it.
23 Oct 2023
at 14:15
AMcWhirterParticipantYes in fact I was about to post this link.
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23 Oct 2023
at 15:29
AMcWhirterParticipantOfficially confirmed a few mins ago.
Qatar Airways Group Announces Appointment of New Group Chief Executive https://t.co/JNGxMYfHbE pic.twitter.com/2rrsKMnMgk
— Qatar Airways (@qatarairways) October 23, 2023
23 Oct 2023
at 16:29
cwoodwardParticipantHe at least to me seemed unnecessarily bothersome and confrontational. Picking unwinnable fights for what seemed to me just because he could.
However he did make some significant and very solid investments in other airlines.2 users thanked author for this post.
24 Oct 2023
at 00:37
MarkivJParticipantI was having a great chat with the QR FA last week when I flew to BLR. He was telling me more about Al baker. Apparently he isn’t a Qatari (he’s half Indian – mum is from mumbai) and his biological dad is either Kuwaiti or Iraqi. So that’s caused some friction in the country as to how a non-Qatari was made the ceo of one of the country’s most profitable businesses. On the other hand, they also recognise his business talent and respect him for that.
1 user thanked author for this post.
24 Oct 2023
at 09:18
transtraxmanParticipantSorry sparkyflier that “inappropriate comment” was my mistake.
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24 Oct 2023
at 10:32
superchrisParticipantI believe he was indeed a Diva from someone I knew who worked with him closely. No doubting his impact though.
Regardless of the rights and wrongs, Qatar are a stunning airline and lead the way in customer delivery in an otherwise sea of mediocrity.
24 Oct 2023
at 12:12
sparkyflierParticipanttranstraxman – no problem and thank you. I was wondering what was contentious about my post ha ha.
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24 Oct 2023
at 13:38
stevescootsParticipantAs someone who was flying QR regular probably 16/17 years ago to asia and after a long break has been doing the odd one with them recently one cannot deny the impact he has had, I agree with Cwoodward that he tends to pick fights for the sake of attention, Micheal O’leary springs to mind for attention seeking. overall a job very well done and maybe it is time for someone else to take the helm with less of an ego
24 Oct 2023
at 14:16
MarkivJParticipantsuperchris – I love QR’s revolutionary Q Suite but I’m not sure what you mean by customer delivery. Their customer support is terrible. QR are a great example of “when it’s good, it’s great. But when it’s bad, let’s not go there”.
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24 Oct 2023
at 15:02 -
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