With just five aircraft at the time of his appointment, al-Baker accepted the challenge to create ‘the world’s best airline’.
Under the leadership of Akbar al-Baker, Qatar Airways has achieved remarkable milestones. What began as a small regional carrier evolved into a global aviation powerhouse, connecting passengers to over 160 destinations globally. His expectation of only the highest of standards in relation to safety, security, passenger experience, and quality of service garnered international recognition, including the prestigious awards.
One of al-Baker's most significant contributions to the passenger side of the aviation industry is the introduction of the Qsuite, a revolutionary Business Class offering featuring the industry's first double bed in Business Class, along with privacy doors, and other highly-customised features that ultimately closed the gap between Business Class and First Class.
Under al-Baker’s leadership, Qatar Airways became the launch customer for the Airbus A350-900 in 2014 and the A350-1000 in 2018, showcasing a commitment to the latest generation of aircraft, and sustainability. Additionally, the airline took the lead in adopting the Boeing Dreamliner 787, further establishing its position as the global carrier with one of the youngest fleets in the world.
Al-Baker's influence extended beyond Qatar Airways. In August 2017, he was appointed Chairman of the Board of Governors of the International Air Transport Association (IATA), a member of the Executive Committee of the Arab Air Carriers Organisation and he serves as a non-executive Director of Heathrow Airport Holdings. He received the Legion of Honour from the President of France, Francois Hollande, in June 2015 for his exceptional leadership in aviation.
Akbar al-Baker's departure as CEO of Qatar Airways is the beginning of a new chapter whereby the commitment to ‘aviation excellence’ remains. Engineer Badr al-Meer, a highly experienced Qatari aviation leader will become the new Group Chief Executive, bringing with him his vision and innovative spirit which transformed Hamad International Airport into the Oasis-like expanded state-of- the- art global hub it is today.
Airport projects are mammoth tasks to deliver, and for this reason rarely ever begin operations on time. Under Al Meer’s leadership as Chief Operating Officer of Hamad International Airport, the Phase A expansion opened ahead of schedule, and provided Qatar with the additional capacity required ready for the influx of visitors from around the world for the FIFA World Cup 2022.
Phase B, which will be completed over the coming years, will extend concourses D and E to further enhance capacity to more than 60mn passengers annually.
“The Orchard” expansion area already features 10,000sq m of indoor tropical garden; a 268sq m water feature; 11,720sq m of landscaped retail and food & beverage space; and a 9,000sq m world-class Al Mourjan lounge with beautiful garden views.
The Middle East aviation sector stands as a critical cornerstone of global air travel for several compelling reasons. Geographically, the Middle East serves as a strategic hub connecting Europe, Asia, and Africa, making it a central transit point for international travellers. The region is home to a fiercely competitive air travel landscape that have set industry benchmarks in terms of passenger experience and innovation. The economic importance of this sector cannot be understated, as it contributes significantly to the GDP of Middle Eastern nations and provides countless jobs.
The author is an aviation analyst. Twitter handle: @AlexInAir