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Ashghal (Public Works Authority) is gearing up to launch projects worth QR4.1bn in the third quarter of the year, Jarallah Mohamed al-Marri, director, Building Projects Department said on Monday.Addressing a media event convened to announce the 19th edition of Project Qatar in Doha (from May 29 to June 1) al-Marri said the projects included development of Hamad General Hospital and some health centres.“The Public Works Authority is participating in Project Qatar exhibition with a special pavilion for the seventh year in a row, through which it is displaying the achievements of the authority in infrastructure projects,” al-Marri noted.He said, “The strategic partnership of the authority with Project Qatar comes within the authority’s vision to enhance communications and partnerships with various private sector companies that contribute to the implementation of projects in the country. We look forward to the exhibition being an opportunity to meet a wide group of consultants, contractors and suppliers with whom the authority can co-operate in the future. Local entrepreneurs and local products are our first priority.”Ahmed Mohamed al-Sada, director, Office of the chief executive officer and Public Relations Department at Qatari Diar, which is the developer of Lusail City project said, “Qatari Diar is participating for the second year in a row as a sponsor of real estate development in the exhibition. This participation is based on the successful participation last year, as we hope that this session will be an opportunity for us to present our latest and most prominent projects around the world to the audience, especially regional and international visitors, many of whom we had the opportunity to meet in last year's session.”

The 19th edition of Project Qatar, nation’s largest and most prominent construction exhibition, will be held from May 29 to June 1 at the Doha Exhibition and Convention Centre, it was announced on Monday.The event will bring together 120 international exhibitors from 25 countries and feature eight official country pavilions and 200 local companies, led by major governmental and semi-governmental companies and prominent private sector companies in Qatar.This year’s event will be held under the patronage of HE the Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sheikh Mohamed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim al-Thani with the support of Ministry of Commerce and Industry and in partnership with Public Works Authority (Ashghal).IFP Qatar, trade fair and conferences organiser, announced details of the 19th edition of Project Qatar at a media event attended by senior officials and representatives of sponsors from public and private sectors.Haidar Mshaimesh, general manager, IFP Qatar, said the organisers expected thousands of visitors at the four-day event. On all the four days, visitors can access the exhibition from 2pm to 9pm.“Qatar's construction industry presents enormous prospects, particularly under the Qatar National Vision (QNV) 2030, the government's strategic growth plan. The framework intends to transform Qatar into a self-sustaining diverse economy that is less dependent on oil.“The 19th edition of Project Qatar is expected to play a significant role in achieving the goals of QNV 2030 by highlighting regional products and the importance of Qatari industry to the national economy. With the assistance of the government, the event presents several opportunities for local and foreign contractors to expand across Qatar.“In addition, there will be great possibilities for Qatar to attract foreign direct investments. We are excited to meet top exhibitors and visitors from around the world who will be offering cutting-edge solutions for the industry.”Major participants at the event include Ashghal as the strategic partner, Qatar Tourism (Hosted Buyers Sponsor) Qatari Diar (Property Development Sponsor), Qatar Development Bank (Leading Sponsor), Qatar Free Zones Authority (Free Zones Partner), Suhail Industrial Holding Group (Industrial Partner) Al Sraiya Holding Group (Platinum Sponsor), Midea (Diamond Sponsor), Milaha, QTerminals, Hamad Bin Khaled (HBK) Contracting, Abdullah Abdulghani & Bros, (Silver Sponsors), Modern Home Company the official distributors of Hisense (HVAC Sponsor), Gulf Organisation for Industrial Consulting (GOIC Industrial Consulting Sponsor), Vodafone Qatar (Exclusive Telecom Sponsor) and Gulfcrafts (Innovative Branding Sponsor).Some 25 countries are participating in this year’s session, eight of which are represented by official national pavilions, which are led by Kuwait’s Public Authority for Industry, Italy’s Italian Trade Agency (ITA), Turkiye’s Ministry of Commerce, and Iran’s Trade Development Organisation (TDO) along with China, Russia, India, and Pakistan.The exhibition will also welcome international delegations from several countries, including the Gulf Co-operation Council countries, Turkiye, Iran, India, China, and others.As a major platform for Qatar's construction industry, Project Qatar 2023 will also introduce four specific conferences.The first edition of Q Industry, a conference that promotes domestic production and manufacturing of materials and equipment vital to the construction industry, as well as the second editions of Q Invest, and Q Tech, along with the ninth edition of Q Green, will be held during the exhibition.The media event was addressed by Jarallah Mohamed al-Marri, director, Building Projects Department at Ashghal; Ali Mohamed al-Kuwari, vice-president, (Marine and Industrial Equipment) Milaha; Ahmed Mohamed al-Sada, director, Office of the chief executive officer and Public Relations Department at Qatari Diar; Noor Shahdad, Group Corporate Communications director, Q Terminals; Shadi Afif, chief development officer, Suhail Industrial Holding Group; Emad Chen, managing director, Midea; Yazan Mustafa, chief operating officer, Commercial and Industrial Division, Abdullah Abdulghani & Bros Company; and Anastasia Volokhova, brand strategy manager, Gulfcrafts.

Qatar's budget surplus is seen at 9.6% of GDP this year based on 2023 revised forecast for Brent crude at $87 a barrel, researcher Oxford Economics said in its latest forecast.The country's budget based on an oil price $65, projects a surplus equivalent to 3.4% of GDP, Oxford Economics noted in its latest country report.According to Oxford Economics, Qatar's government ran a surplus of QR89bn (10.3% of GDP) in 2022.Annual inflation slowed to 4% in March, from 4.4% in February after prices rose 0.3% month-on-month (m-o-m). Food and transportation prices eased on a sequential basis, underpinning the slowdown in the annual print, but recreation and culture as well as housing and utilities categories rose.The trends are consistent with Oxford Economics CPI forecast of 2.3% this year, and the researcher expects a further decline below 2% in the medium term.The Qatari economy will slow to about 2.6% this year and in 2024, down 0.1ppt from last month, following stronger-than-expected 2022 growth, according to Oxford Economics.Survey data point to resilient demand and strong expectations, which Oxford Economics believes will support economic activity. Consequently, Oxford Economics has left its non-oil sector growth estimates broadly unchanged at 3.2% this year and next.The latest GDP statistics show the economy grew by 4.8% year-on-year (y-o-y) in 2022, above its 4.1% estimate, following a jump of 8% in the fourth quarter (Q4).Energy GDP rose a surprising 4.8% y-o-y in Q4, the strongest pace since first quarter (Q1) 2012.The non-energy sector more than doubled that pace, growing 9.9% y-o-y during the quarter, as the World Cup fuelled activity in accommodation, transport, and trade industries. This brought non-oil growth for the year to 6.8%, higher than the researcher’s 6.3% projection.Balance of payments data for Q4, 2022 confirmed a surge in services exports at the end of last year and resilient goods trade.As a result, the 2022 current account surplus hit a record $63.1bn (26.6% of GDP). Meanwhile, the period of divestment from Qatar appears over following the best quarterly FDI inflow since 2012. “We expect these positive trends to continue this year and next, though lower commodity prices imply both the external and fiscal surpluses will narrow,” Oxford Economics noted.The non-energy sector expanded by 6.8% in 2022, exceeding Oxford Economics’ 6.3% projection and marking the fastest pace since 2015.But growth will slow to 3.2% this year as momentum eases after the World Cup, maintaining a similar pace in 2024-25.Tourism will be among the sectors that will support non-oil recovery this year, thanks to major events, including the Asian Football Cup and Formula 1 Qatar Grand Prix, and in the medium term.Qatar attracted 2.56mn tourists in 2022, and data for January and February show foreign arrivals were about three and four times higher than in the respective months last year, Oxford Economics noted.

Qatar’s banking sector risk is among the lowest in the Middle East, a new report by The Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) has shown.Qatar’s banking sector risk is the second lowest in the Gulf Co-operation Council (GCC) region and the entire Middle East (with the exception of Israel), EIU noted in its latest report. Only Saudi Arabia (risk score 33) is ahead of Qatar (38) in this regard.Middle Eastern banks have “limited direct exposure” through investment in equities or bonds linked to financially stressed institutions in North America and Europe, it said.GCC commercial banks had less than 5% of total assets and less than 3% of total liabilities involving US counterparts at the end of 2022, and although they have increased their financial links to European financial services providers in recent years—especially Saudi Arabia following an aggressive outreach strategy—their overall exposure remains manageable.Banking sectors in the region’s key business and finance hubs located in the GCC states especially Doha, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Bahrain, Riyadh and Kuwait City — appear “well positioned” to withstand the shocks emerging from financial markets in Europe and North America.“These hubs hold the region’s key financial institutions and most developed banking industries and have started 2023 on a strong financial footing,” EIU noted.For instance, EIU said total assets, customer deposits, net loans and net interest income — the difference between interest earned from lending activities and interest paid to depositors — for GCC listed banks have been on an upwards trajectory since the start of 2021 and these performance measures reached record highs in the fourth quarter of 2022.The outlook for the banking industry in 2023 across the GCC and Israel looks reasonably bright given the expectation of strong international energy demand and associated investment and exports,recovering tourism industries, buoyant non-energy business activity, major public and private investment programmes, and a continued boom in initial public offerings (IPOs), which had a bumper year in 2022.Moreover, the GCC banking sector is likely to benefit from stable exchange rates and relatively low inflation, as well as the prospect of further consolidation across the industry amid the push to create lenders with larger revenue streams and operating efficiencies capable of supporting ambitious diversification agendas.According to EIU, banks across major markets in the Middle East retain ample financial buffers in terms of core capital-adequacy ratios, liquidity coverage ratios and net stable funding ratios.All these measures were comfortably above the minimum required levels as set out under Basel III requirements for banking sectors in aggregate and for major individual banks in 2022.In addition, and specifically in the GCC, banks tend to rely much more on relatively stable domestic funding sources from government, corporate and retail depositors rather than external, market-sensitive finance — a characteristic that provides them with a degree of certainty and stability for core funding sources.Banks across the Middle East retain the backing of governments with an active presence in the financial services sector, which can prove crucial in times of need to curtail runs on banks caused by depositors and investors seeking to withdraw funds or exit their investment positions.This is especially the case in the GCC, where governments have a track record of stepping in with considerable support during times of need, as seen during the global financial crisis of 2008 and the early stages of the covid-19 pandemic in 2020.For their part, GCC states have sought to improve financial services sector regulation and comply with international best practice to help to attract foreign investment and set the foundation for a stable environment that supports their own development and diversification agendas.The Middle East has fared better than other regions during previous periods of financial instability, such as the global financial crisis of 2008. Limited direct exposure to risky foreign investments, a focus on traditional lending and savings mobilisation, strong regulation and financial buffers, and prompt and forceful policy action proved beneficial in the past and will provide some protection once again.Moreover, limited integration into the global financial system of the region’s weaker states should militate against direct effects through the financial system.However, an escalation of the current financial difficulties in major developed markets and a sharp deterioration in global financial conditions would most likely affect the Middle East through second-round effects and in various ways.The region’s developed and developing banking sectors would probably suffer impacts on income statements and balance sheets caused by a contraction in global economic activity, trade and investment, volatile and bearish international energy markets, plunging overseas and domestic asset prices — including equities and real estate — and softer domestic business activity.The Middle East’s major banking industries would remain well capitalised, but profitability and asset quality would probably suffer, to the detriment of regional economic growth and stability, EIU noted.

Qatar’s medium-term growth is likely to rise to around 4–4.5% after the North Field expansion starts boosting LNG production, International Monetary Fund (IMF) said in a report released on Thursday.Aided by buoyant export revenue and public spending, Qatar’s fiscal and external current accounts are projected to be in surpluses throughout the medium term, IMF said.The report, which was issued after a visit to Qatar by a team led by IMF’s Ran Bi in early May, said, “After very strong growth in 2022 boosted by the World Cup, the economy is expected to normalise in the near term while the outlook remains relatively favourable.Real GDP growth is expected at 2–2.5% in 2023–24 on robust domestic demand and the ongoing LNG expansion, with inflation moderating gradually to around 3%.”Risks to Qatar’s outlook are broadly balanced. Downside risks stem mainly from an unfavorable global environment, including a sharper-than-expected global growth slowdown, tighter and more volatile global financial conditions, increased commodity price volatility, and further worsening of geopolitical tensions.On the upside, accelerated reform efforts guided by the 3rd National Development Strategy, to be unveiled in the summer of 2023, could boost productivity and promote economic diversification. Sustained high hydrocarbon prices would further strengthen the outlook.“Fiscal discipline has been broadly maintained in 2022, with most of the hydrocarbon windfalls saved and overall expenditure largely kept within the budget envelope. As a result, fiscal surplus rose to around 10% of GDP in 2022, from close to zero in 2021. Central government debt declined by 16 percentage points to around 42% of GDP during the same period.“The 2023 budget balances continued discipline and sustaining domestic demand, with a broadly unchanged wage bill and cuts in public investment from 2022 outturns. The upcoming medium-term budget, for 2023–25, will be developed following the release of the 3rd National Development Strategy to balance aspiration for transformation and fiscal discipline.”IMF noted that a decade of the nation’s efforts to diversify the economy culminated in the successful hosting of the 2022 FIFA World Cup. Qatar managed the Covid-19 pandemic well, providing a safe environment for the first major global sport event since the pandemic.Qatar is well placed to leverage the top-notch infrastructure built and capitalise on the momentum and visibility created by the World Cup as the government lays out its 3rd National Development Strategy to help achieve the ambitions of Qatar National Vision 2030.“Qatar has smoothly navigated the recent global economic and market volatility. The Russian war in Ukraine highlighted risks from geopolitical tensions, including the impact on energy prices, and the role of natural gas in safeguarding energy security, opening up opportunities for Qatar. The banking sector turmoil originating from the U.S. has had only a limited and temporary impact on the domestic financial system,” IMF noted.While in Doha, the IMF team met with HE the Minister of Finance Ali bin Ahmed al-Kuwari, HE the Governor of Qatar Central Bank Sheikh Bandar bin Mohammed bin Saoud al-Thani, other senior government officials, and private sector representatives.

Qatari banks’ reliance on non-resident deposits has progressively fallen by more than one-third (nearly $30bn) since their peak registered in late-2021, the International Monetary Fund said in its country report released on Thursday.The completion of World Cup-related projects and hydrocarbon windfalls have reduced credit demand from the public sector and provided additional liquidity to banks, reducing their funding needs. The Qatar Central Bank has implemented several macro-prudential measures since (spring of) 2022 to discourage banks from relying on non-resident deposits, especially of short tenors.The report was issued after a visit to Qatar by a team led by IMF’s Ran Bi in early May.As domestic monetary policy has tightened, consistent with the currency peg to the US dollar, banks’ asset quality, liquidity and profitability remained solid, and their reliance on nonresident deposits has fallen.“QCB has maintained price and financial stability. Monetary policy has been tightened broadly following the US Federal Reserve, consistent with the currency peg to the dollar. Monetary policy transmission has strengthened through more effective liquidity management.“Banks remain well-capitalised, liquid and profitable, although the non-performing loans (NPLs) ratio has edged up amid monetary policy tightening. Relatively high provisioning for NPLs, on the other hand, mitigates the risk,” IMF said.Qatar’s AML/CFT mutual evaluation, completed in February, confirmed that the nation has made significant progress on technical compliance with the FATF Standards, while more work is needed to further improve the effectiveness.The ambitious structural reform agenda underpins Qatar’s economic diversification efforts to build a more inclusive, knowledge-based and greener economy.“Structural reforms have advanced further to achieve Qatar National Vision 2030, including in green financing and digitalisation. The Ministry of Finance has developed a Sovereign Green Financing Framework with a clear set of principles," the report said.The QCB has created a dedicated department to define the ESG policies, standard reporting framework and management of ESG risk and compliance. Related initiatives at the national level involving main regulatory bodies are being assessed. Qatar has also successfully capitalised on the 2022 FIFA World Cup to upgrade its digital infrastructure.The Investment Promotion Agency of Qatar embarked on partnerships to accelerate digital transformation and foster technological innovation domestically, including through FDI. The QCB recently launched the National Fintech Strategy, with detailed guidelines and standards under development, IMF noted.

India’s aviation industry is always seen as one that offers growth potential, but it faces significant challenges and can also be brutally competitive.While India’s largest airlines Air India and IndiGo have been attracting headlines due to their ambitious growth plans, some of the country’s other airlines are grappling with serious financial challenges.Air India’s recent moves to order 470 aircraft signals that it is back in expansion mode, and data show competitor IndiGo has about the same number of aircraft remaining on its order books.They are both looking to tap into the strong demand potential in the Indian market, but their growth strategies will also put more pressure on India’s smaller airlines, points out CAPA Centre for Aviation.“Many of these airlines are already in difficulties,” CAPA Centre for Aviation noted.Go First airline has entered voluntary bankruptcy, due partly to long-running fleet problems that are out of its control.Another airline Spicejet is mired in court disputes as aircraft lessors seek unpaid fees, and Jet Airways faces looming deadlines to keep its relaunch hopes alive.As competition continues to heat up in the Indian domestic market, the question is whether all these players can survive, or whether further consolidation will be required among the smaller independent airlines.Undoubtedly, India's growing middle class and increasing disposable income have led to a significant rise in domestic and international air travel. As more people can afford to fly, the demand for air travel is expected to continue growing.But analysts say India’s airline industry faces a myriad of problems including financial instability, intense competition, infrastructure constraints particularly in regional areas, regulatory complexities, rising fuel costs, pilot shortage and high operational costs.One of the major issues plaguing the Indian airline industry is financial instability. Most airlines in India have struggled with high operating costs, intense competition, and fluctuating fuel prices.Many carriers have faced losses and accumulated substantial debt, leading to financial distress and even bankruptcy in some cases.India's airline industry is highly competitive, with numerous players vying for market share. This competition often leads to price wars, making it difficult for airlines to maintain profitability.Low-cost carriers have emerged as strong competitors, offering competitive fares and capturing a significant portion of the market.India's aviation infrastructure has struggled to keep pace with the rapid growth of the airline industry. Congested airports, inadequate runway capacity, and a lack of modern facilities in many tier two and tier three airports have led to operational challenges and delays.Limited infrastructure development in smaller cities and towns also hampers the expansion of air connectivity to underserved regions.Industry experts say the Indian aviation sector operates under complex and restrictive regulations, which can hinder growth and increase operational costs.Regulatory approvals, bureaucratic processes, and taxation policies can be cumbersome and time-consuming for airlines. Streamlining and simplifying regulations would help the industry to flourish.In energy-deficit India, fuel prices are a significant cost component for airlines, and the volatility of fuel prices poses a constant challenge in the highly price-sensitive Indian market. Fluctuations in oil prices on the global market impact operating costs and profitability.Fuel taxes and surcharges imposed by the government also add to the burden, making it difficult for airlines to manage costs effectively.Like many other emerging markets, India is experiencing a shortage of skilled pilots, primarily due to the rapid expansion of the airline industry.As airlines add more aircraft to their fleets, finding qualified and experienced pilots becomes increasingly challenging. The scarcity of pilots can lead to flight cancellations, disruptions, and increased costs for airlines.To support its ambitious growth plans, Tata Group, the new owner of Air India, plans to set up an aviation training academy to rival those considered the best worldwide.Already there are talks about Air India setting up its own ground handling division to meet the airline's future needs.While major cities in India have relatively good aviation infrastructure, regional areas lack adequate facilities and air connectivity.Limited airports, poor infrastructure, and inadequate air services restrict the growth potential of these regions. Developing airports and improving connectivity to smaller cities would help stimulate economic growth and tourism.Airlines in India face high operational costs due to various factors, including expensive airport charges, high taxes, and maintenance expenses.Additionally, the country's complex tax structure and regulatory environment contribute to increased operational costs, impacting airlines' profitability and competitiveness.That said, India's airline industry has a favourable environment for growth, driven by factors such as increasing disposable income, urbanisation, government support, infrastructure development, and the potential of the low-cost carrier segment. By capitalising on these opportunities and addressing challenges, the industry can flourish and contribute to the country’s economic development.However, addressing these challenges requires a multi-faceted approach involving policy reforms, infrastructure development, and strategic management by airlines.That requires government support in terms of favourable policies, regulatory simplification, and infrastructure investment. These would be instrumental in nurturing a more sustainable and competitive airline industry in India.Pratap John is Business Editor at Gulf Times. Twitter handle: @PratapJohn

Second highest passenger growth is expected in the Middle East region during the summer travel holiday season, IATA’s forward bookings data indicate.An IATA survey covering 4,700 travellers in some 11 countries shows that 79% said they were planning a trip in the June-August 2023 period.While 85% said that peak travel season disruptions should not be a surprise, 80% said that they expected smooth travel with post pandemic issues having been resolved.Forward bookings data indicates that greatest growth is expected in Asia Pacific region (134.7%) followed by Middle East (42.9%), Europe (39.9%), Africa (36.4%), Latin America (21.4%) and North America (14.1%).IATA survey has seen “high levels of confidence” among travellers for the peak Northern summer travel holiday season. This corresponds with first quarter of 2023 forward bookings data for May – September, which is tracking at 35% above 2022 levels.IATA’s senior vice-president (Operations, Safety and Security) Nick Careen said, “Expectations are high for this year’s peak Northern summer travel season. For many this will be their first post-pandemic travel experience. While some disruptions can be expected, there is a clear expectation that the ramping-up issues faced at some key hub airports in 2022 will have been resolved. “To meet strong demand, airlines are planning schedules based on the capacity that airports, border control, ground handlers, and air navigation service providers have declared. Over the next months, all industry players now need to deliver.”Collaboration, sufficient staffing and accurate information sharing are all essential to minimise operational disruptions and their impact on passengers. The key is ensuring that the capacities which have been declared and scheduled are available.“A lot of work has gone into preparing for the peak Northern summer travel season. Success rests on readiness across all players in the supply chain. If each player delivers on what has been declared, there should be no last minute requirements to reduce the scale of the schedules that travellers have booked on,” said Careen.Labour unrest, particularly in France, is cause for concern. Eurocontrol data on the impact of French strikes earlier this year shows that cancellations can spike by over a third.“We need to keep a very careful eye on Europe where strike actions have caused significant disruptions earlier this year. Governments should have effective contingency plans in place so that the actions of those providing essential services like air traffic control maintain minimum service levels and do not disrupt the hard-earned vacations of those travelling or put at risk the livelihoods of those in the travel and tourism sectors,” Careen added.

Uptick in LNG imports from Qatar contributed to higher LNG imports in India and Pakistan in April this year, GECF’ latest data show.In April 2023, Asia Pacific's LNG imports continued to recover and increased by 5% (1.05mn tonnes) y-o-y to 20.50mn tonnes, which was slightly lower than the imports in April 2021.China, India, Thailand, and Pakistan contributed to the bulk of the incremental increase in LNG imports and offset weaker imports in Japan. Asia Pacific's cumulative LNG imports from January to April this year rose by 3% (2.6mn tonnes) y-o-y to 89.12mn tonnes, Doha-headquartered Gas Exporting Countries Forum said.China's LNG imports continued to recover in April and recorded the highest year-on-year increase since September 2021. The rebound in economic and industrial activity boosted gas consumption, driving LNG imports higher.Pipeline gas imports to the EU increased by 3% month-on-month, to reach 14 bcm in April.Global LNG imports surged by 10% y-o-y to 34.4mn tonnes, setting a new record high for imports in April. The increase was driven by stronger LNG imports across all regions, especially in the Asia Pacific and Europe.In Europe, the rise in LNG imports continues to compensate for the lower pipeline gas imports into the region.Meanwhile, the rebound in gas consumption in China, opportunistic buying in India due to lower spot LNG prices, and declining gas production and pipeline gas imports in Thailand contributed to the increase in the Asia Pacific's LNG imports.Furthermore, Philippines joined the ranks of LNG importers in April, GECF noted.As of April, the restocking of gas storage sites has commenced. In the EU, the average level of gas in underground storage was 59.4bcm, which amounts to 57% of the region's storage capacity.In the US, the level of underground gas storage increased to 55.6bcm, representing 42% of its capacity.A slower stockbuild is expected in both the EU and US this summer due to the high levels of gas already in storage. The combined LNG in storage in Japan and South Korea was estimated at 9.8bcm.According to GECF, gas and LNG spot prices in Europe and Asia continued their downward trend for the fourth consecutive month. In April, the Title Transfer Facility (TTF), which is the main reference virtual market for gas trading in Europe and Northeast Asia (NEA) LNG spot prices, averaged $13.69/MMBtu and $12.10/MMBtu, respectively, representing a 1% and 9% decrease compared to the previous month.The TTF spot price was 57% lower y-o-y, while the NEA LNG spot price experienced a decline of 58% y-o-y. With the arrival of the shoulder season, the market witnessed a decrease in tightness as a result of ample storage levels and strong LNG supply.However, in Asia, there was some emerging buying activity in anticipation of the summer season, which helped limit the decline in spot LNG prices, GECF said.

Qatar's headline and core inflation remains relatively lower than elsewhere mainly due to subsidies and caps on certain products, strengthening of the US dollar to which the riyal is pegged, IMF said in its latest regional outlook.Headline inflation showed signs of peaking at the end of 2022, although it remains persistently high for emerging markets, Middle income countries and low income countries, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) said in the recent report.Headline and core inflation in many oil-exporting countries (Qatar, Bahrain, Iraq, Kuwait, Oman and Saudi Arabia) remain relatively lower than elsewhere — as subsidies and caps on certain products, the strengthening of the US dollar (to which many of the countries peg their currencies), and limited share of food in the consumer price index basket have helped to offset imported inflationary pressures — and appear to have peaked in the last months of 2022. By contrast, headline inflation continued trending upward in most emerging markets, Middle income countries (Egypt, Morocco, Pakistan, and Tunisia, but not Jordan because of its peg to the US dollar and temporary fuel subsidies), partly reflecting the impact of past exchange rate depreciation and persistently elevated food prices, but also broadening price pressures (including on services) as underscored by the rise in core inflation amid loose monetary policy (Egypt, Pakistan, Tunisia).According to the IMF, real GDP growth in the Mena region has been upgraded for 2022 because of stronger-than-expected growth in many oil-exporting economies (Qatar, Bahrain, Libya, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates) and some oil importers (Jordan, Mauritania, Morocco, Tunisia).Real GDP in the region is estimated to have expanded by 5.3% in 2022 (an upward revision of 0.3 percentage point from October), up from 4.3% in 2021, reflecting the strong performance of oil exporters (especially GCC economies) and Egypt and despite lacklustre growth in other emerging markets, middle income countries and most low income countries.The acceleration in growth in 2022 was mainly due to strong domestic demand—notwithstanding the negative impact of higher prices on households’ purchasing power and firms’ production costs—and a strong rebound in oil production for oil exporters, it noted.Several factors explain the relative strength of domestic demand. Tourism rebounded, and hotel occupancy rates recovered, surpassing their pre-pandemic levels in many countries (Qatar, Jordan, Morocco, and Saudi Arabia).Remittance flows remained strong in mid-2022 in most emerging markets and middle income countries (Egypt, Jordan, Morocco and Pakistan), IMF noted.Lending to the private sector (non-financial firms and households) continued to expand in real terms in some emerging markets and middle income countries, with double-digit growth in some countries (approximately 10% in Egypt), partly reflecting the prevalence of subsidised lending initiatives in the second half of 2022.Labour market conditions stopped deteriorating in 2022, although structural factors, such as labour and product market rigidities hampered a meaningful recovery, especially in emerging markets and middle income countries, it said.Employment growth in emerging markets and middle income countries remained lacklustre in the second half (Jordan, Morocco, Tunisia) but continued to rise at a healthy pace in GCC countries (Bahrain, Oman, Saudi Arabia), partly reflecting rebounding migrant employment (Bahrain, Oman, Saudi Arabia). Unemployment rates inched up or remained broadly steady in most emerging markets and middle income countries, staying above pre-pandemic levels in many countries in late 2022 (Jordan, Morocco, Tunisia), IMF added.

Available Qatar economic data remains positive, researcher FocusEconomics said citing surge in tourist arrivals and strong growth in private sector Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) in the country.In its latest country update, FocusEconomics noted tourist arrivals surged in the first quarter (Q1) of 2023.Official figures indicate Qatar’s tourism sector is gaining strength, which is reflected on the arrival numbers for the first quarter of 2023 that has hit record numbers – over 1.16mn by the end of March.FocusEconomics said the private-sector PMI rose strongly from February onward to a nine-month high in April.The country’s economy expanded 8% year on year in fourth quarter (Q4) of 2022, a multi-year high.It was spearheaded by the non-energy sector, with the FIFA World Cup spurring the transport, retail and hospitality industries.The energy sector also recorded robust growth. Energy output increased by 14.3% in annual terms in February.In contrast, the public sector performed sluggishly, likely linked to school closures and reduced government office hours during the month-long sporting event.On the flipside, the construction sector appears to be cooling amid the end of the World Cup construction boom and higher interest rates, with building permits declining year on year in Q1.FocusEconomics noted the economy will lose steam this year on slowing building activity, rising borrowing costs and flagging external demand.That said, ongoing gas sector development and a stronger tourism industry will provide support.Improved relations with Arab neighbours are an upside risk; for instance, in mid-April Qatar and Bahrain announced they would restore ties.FocusEconomics panelists see GDP expanding 2.5% in 2023, which is down by 0.1 percentage points from one month ago, and expanding 2.5% in 2024.Inflation fell to 4% in March from 4.4% in February this year. The Qatar Central Bank (QCB) hiked its policy rates by 25 basis points (0.25%) in May, in line with the Fed, with the lending rate rising to 6%.In 2023, FocusEconomics panelists see inflation moderating from last year as borrowing costs rise, the World-Cup-related demand surge ends and commodity prices recede. FocusEconomics panellists see consumer prices rising 2.9% in 2023, which is down by 0.1 percentage points from one month ago, and rising 2.2% in 2024.According to FocusEconomics, Qatar’s GDP would scale up to $272bn by 2027 from $218bn this year.GDP per capita, it said, would reach $108,095 in 2027 from $83,318 this year. Next year, GDP per capita has been estimated at $85,993 and $91,254 in 2025 and $99,978 in 2026.Merchandise exports have been estimated to reach $127.8bn in 2027 from $112.2bn in 2023, $110.8bn (2024), $108.3bn (2025) and $117.4bn (2026).Fiscal balance (as a percentage of GDP) has been estimated at 7.1% this year, 5.7% (2024), 5% (2025), 6.5% (2026) and 6.2% (2027).Public debt (as a percentage of GDP) has been estimated at 43.8% this year, 44.2% (2024), 42.8% (2025), 40.6% (2026) and 38% (2027).

The outlook for the oil market and prices in 2023 remains highly uncertain amid a myriad of negative and positive risk factors, National Bank of Kuwait (NBK) said in a report Thursday.While the outlook for the next couple of months remains weighed down by demand-impacting macroeconomic concerns, specifically OECD recession fears and lagging Chinese consumption growth, in the second half (H2) of the year, supply-side pressures stemming from Opec+ production cuts will increasingly come to the fore, NBK noted.Allied to expectations of increased oil consumption over the summer months and especially in China and the Far East, the market is expected to flip from a surplus to a deficit, with the result that prices should begin to firm quite a bit from current levels.The global economic growth forecast this year was trimmed by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in its April World Economic Outlook (-0.1% pts to 2.8%), citing higher interest rates and heightened risk of financial system turmoil.Underwhelming economic readings in the US, particularly GDP, retail sales and jobs also added to headwinds, while in China manufacturing unexpectedly contracted in April, according to the official PMI.These developments as well as more recent concerns about the US defaulting on its debt in the absence of congressional approval to raise the debt ceiling were behind oil’s tumble to a fresh year-low of $72.3/b in early May, NBK said.Moreover, refining margins for petroleum products such as diesel, a key gauge of industrial activity and transportation, have also signalled some weakness in the Far East, amid sub-optimal demand and stock builds.Compounding matters and stoking volatility has been the decline in oil market liquidity, it said.Open interest (the number of outstanding Brent futures and options contracts) declined by 4.7% to 2.15mn contracts by May 2, while money manager net length continued to retreat as speculators increased positions on prices falling amid palpable bearish sentiment.Nevertheless, the consensus among energy agencies and analysts is that global oil demand will eventually accelerate in the second half (H2) of the year, led mainly by China and other non-OECD countries.Despite the near-term softness, Chinese GDP growth in Q1, 2023 actually surprised on the upside at 4.5% year-on-year (y-o-y), and both the International Energy Agency (IEA) and Opec see China as the impetus for their improving oil demand forecast through the rest of the year.They left their demand growth forecasts (annual average) unchanged for 2023 at 2mn bpd and 2.3mn bpd respectively in their April oil market reports.On the supply side, Opec+’s surprise output reduction will likely deepen the anticipated supply shortages in H2, 2023, with the result that oil supply will likely start undershooting oil demand before the end of the current quarter.Based on IEA oil demand and non-Opec crude projections and assuming Opec+ cuts are adhered to for the rest of the year and there is no meaningful increase in output by members currently under-producing relative to their targets, NBK sees the supply deficit widening and implied stock draws of as much as 2.5mn bpd in Q4, 2023.

Qatar Airways, which has started receiving its ordered 737 MAX has deployed the first aircraft on the Kuwait route.In all, Qatar Airways will be receiving nine 737 MAX. The airline has already received two and will receive the remaining seven aircraft by end of July.At a recent media event in Doha, Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive HE Akbar al-Baker told Gulf Times the national airline has already started taking delivery of its (Boeing) MAX aircraft.According to Qatar Airways, the national carrier recently had the opportunity to add a small number of Boeing 737-8 MAX aircraft to its fleet, the first of which arrived in Doha on April 15.Since its arrival the aircraft has undergone post-delivery maintenance, which has included IFE streaming installation and the aircraft has been used for pilot training almost every day, the airline said on its website.The utilisation of the Boeing 737-8s will add capacity to help drive future growth, especially in short haul markets, which will be expanded from the Doha-Kuwait-Doha route to other nations, principally in the GCC as further approvals take place.“As a rapidly growing airline, these efficient and modern aircraft are a welcome addition to the narrow body fleet to support our sustainable expansion plans as the world’s leading airline,” Qatar Airways said.Qatar Airways has now received its second Boeing 737-8 MAX and will receive the remaining seven aircraft by end of July.Qatar Airways is a leading customer for the Boeing 737-10 with 25 of this type ordered at the Farnborough Airshow in 2022. The Boeing 737-10 and Boeing 737-8 have a number of operational synergies, particularly in pilot training and ground handling, which will deliver value to customers, though there are differences in onboard amenities such as the Oryx One Play Wireless Inflight Entertainment, rather than the Individual IFE screens which will be available on the Boeing 737-10.“Whilst the Boeing 737-8 will operate on shorter sectors, these are not expected to be exclusively operated with this aircraft and will flexibly utilise the Boeing 777 and Airbus A350 depending on demand and capacity,” Qatar Airways said.According to manufacturer Boeing, the 737-8 has a 6,570km range.Incorporating advanced technology winglets and efficient engines, the 737 MAX offers excellent economics, reducing fuel use and emissions by 20% while producing a 50% smaller noise footprint than the airplanes it replaces.Additionally, 737 MAX offers up to 14% lower airframe maintenance costs than the competition.

Qatar Tourism, in partnership with the World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) launched the Qatar Tourism Awards, a programme designed to celebrate and recognise the "remarkable contributions" made by businesses in delivering outstanding and distinct tourism experiences in Qatar.Developed in partnership with UNWTO, the programme will recognise stakeholder efforts in “curating unique and exceptional tourism experiences.”The Qatar Tourism Awards will focus on three principal categories-cultural experiences, smart solutions, and service excellence, which highlight the different aspects of the visitor experience.The three main categories contain multiple subcategories totalling 50 awards.An esteemed jury of prominent businesspeople, along with representatives from Qatar Tourism and the UNWTO will choose the winners, it was announced in Doha Tuesday.The awards will be distributed at a glittering ceremony in Doha in November this year.These awards are designed to shed light on the factors that contribute to curating a visitor's experience at every touchpoint of their journey, by awarding tourism businesses that continually achieve excellence in customer service delivery.This initiative aims to encourage all stakeholders who play a direct or indirect role in the delivery of tourism experiences to continue to develop and emulate exceptional initiatives characterised by uniqueness, sustainability, accessibility, and high-quality service.Chairman of Qatar Tourism and Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, HE Akbar al-Baker said, “We are delighted to launch the Qatar Tourism Awards, which are designed to recognise the exceptional work of stakeholders in the tourism sector. Qatar is home to some of the world's most iconic tourism experiences, and this is achieved by the vision, hard work, and dedication of the businesses and individuals in the tourism sector.“Through this programme, we hope to inspire and encourage our partners to develop new and innovative initiatives that will continue to elevate Qatar's reputation as a world-class tourism destination.”Entry to the Qatar Tourism Awards is open to all tourism businesses, operators, entrepreneurs, visitor attractions, organisations, and events that operate in Qatar and promote Qatar to a domestic and international audience.Service Excellence awards celebrate both organisations and individuals whose professionalism and quality service delivery created overwhelmingly positive and memorable experiences for Qatar’s visitors.For organisations, there are more than 33 service excellence awards up for grabs across 14 subcategories.For individuals, there are up to seven awards available across three subcategories.The cultural awards recognise organisations that support visitors’ experience of Qatar’s values, traditions, and heritage.In this category, judges review entries that showcase Qatar’s modern, multicultural society. There are about eight cultural experiences awards up for grabs across three subcategories.Smart Solutions awards honour organisations that enhance visitors’ experiences using new technologies, products, processes, or organisational innovations.In this category, judges review entries for excellence in digital information and marketing, visitor mobility and accessibility, environmental conditions, and improvement of the overall visitor experience. In this category, there are up to six Smart Solution awards across three subcategories are up for grabs.Submissions for the awards are now open, and winners will be announced in a special ceremony later this year.Qatar Tourism and the World Tourism Organisation noted “they aim to use the Qatar Tourism Awards to further heighten the service delivery standards of the country’s tourism sector.”The programme emphasises the importance of offering visitors memorable and unique experiences and delivering service that exceeds their expectations.Special consideration will be given to entries that show a commitment to preserving the natural environment, educating the world about local culture and traditions, and contributing to the socio-economic development of Qatar.Entrants are also encouraged to ensure broad access to products and services to all visitors, regardless of gender, age, nationality, language or disability.Qatar Tourism chief operating officer Berthold Trenkel was also present at the press conference Tuesday.ends

Qatar’s private sector will play a key role in boosting tourism sector’s contribution to the country’s GDP, Qatar Tourism chairman HE Akbar al-Baker said Tuesday.“There will be lots of investments in the country’s tourism industry and a roadmap for these investments and projects taking place will be unveiled soon. A lot of projects will be unveiled to the private sector to initiate,” al-Baker said in reply to a question by Gulf Times at a media event at Ned Doha Tuesday.Early this year, Qatar Tourism announced a package of plans and programmes for 2023, as part of its strategy aimed at strengthening the country’s position as a leading global tourist destination by attracting 6mn visitors annually and raising the tourism sector's contribution to the gross domestic product (GDP) to 12% by 2030.Among the most prominent programmes of 2023 is the cruise season, with expectations of more than 100 visits, receiving about 300,000 visitors.With curtain falling on the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, the country is moving steadily towards the future to achieve its National Vision 2030, which aims to diversify the national economy.The tourism sector comes at the forefront of sectors that enhance this trend by raising its contribution to the GDP from 7% to 12%, in addition to doubling job opportunities, while continuing efforts to enhance Qatar's position as a leading global destination for service excellence.The recent selection of Doha as the capital of Arab tourism for the year 2023 by the Arab Ministerial Council for Tourism is an additional step towards consolidating its position as an attractive tourist destination.Forecasts indicate that Qatar's economy will grow in excess of 3% in 2023, thanks to the momentum of hosting the World Cup, which will enhance Qatar's position on the tourism map.Qatar’s tourism sector gains strength, which is reflected on the arrival numbers for the first quarter (Q1) of 2023, which has hit record numbers – over 1.16mn by the end of March. These numbers also include a very successful cruise season.

GCC economies have bounced back since the 2020 pandemic, PwC said and noted the region’s non-energy sector recovery has been aided by tourism, notably in Qatar and Saudi Arabia.This positive outlook is attributed to high oil prices and strong balance sheets at the sovereign and corporate levels, as well as continued diversification and economic resilience as countries pursue their national visions, , PwC said in its ‘Middle East economy watch’.However, the wider Middle East remains more vulnerable to these global trends, PwC noted.The sectors that were hardest hit in the region during 2020 were the same as experienced globally, including hospitality, transportation and retail/wholesale trade.Hospitality declined by nearly a third, transportation by a sixth and trade by nearly a tenth. These sectors are all partly driven by domestic demand and partly by tourism.The dip in domestic demand was largely temporary, with tourism slower to recover, but the gap has been closing quickly.In 2022, the five states for which regular tourism data is available, lagged 2019 levels by -8%. However, by Q4, three of the five were well above Q4-19.“Although Qatar’s surge was a temporary boost from the World Cup, its monthly numbers have remained solid in early 2023,” PwC noted.Recovery in expat numbers: In Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Bahrain, where the population data is most readily available, there has been a strong rebound over the last 18 months, the report noted.By end-2022, expat numbers were above pre-pandemic levels in Bahrain, Qatar, the Saudi Arabia and Oman.In Oman and Bahrain this boost has largely been due to renewed hiring thanks to higher oil prices and other economic drivers, and elsewhere in the GCC recent initiatives such as new visa legislation, alongside geo-political migration drivers from outside the region, will continue to attract more expatriates to the GCC.Indeed, across the region as a whole expat numbers rebounded by 2.8% in 2022 and should surpass the 2019 level later this year, the report said.According to the report, the GCC is especially well placed to implement their long-term National Vision transformation plans due to substantial financial resources to direct to their objectives, and the leadership continuity and commitment to see them through.Overall, progress on key KPIs across the region is promising, with some room for improvement on others.Richard Boxshall, partner and chief economist commented: “The GCC as a whole is making good progress towards achieving its countries’ National Visions, with areas of common focus including non-oil diversification, improving infrastructure, advancing digitalisation, creating competitive business environments and workforce nationalisation targets for the private-sector.“Most GCC countries are also advancing towards their sustainability objectives, such as investing in solar generation capacity. With COP28 on the horizon, we expect the momentum and reinvestments driving this transformation to increase”.The report highlights that the region has been quick to secure the non-oil recovery, even in the hardest-hit sectors of hospitality, transportation and retail/wholesale trade.In 2022, the five GCC states for which regular tourism data is available, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar, Bahrain, and Oman, showed a lag of -8% behind 2019 levels. However, by Q4, Qatar, Saudi and Bahrain were well above Q4, 2019 levels.Stephen Anderson, partner, Middle East Strategy and Markets Leader, said, “The GCC economies have shown great resilience in the face of many obstacles being experienced globally, with the growth of the non-oil economy and increased focus on sustainability enabling them to lead the diversification agenda on a larger scale. “Continued government investment in strategic sectors and projects in pursuit of their National Visions will underpin future growth, allowing us to weather the worst of the global slowdown throughout 2023.”

Middle Eastern airlines saw a 43.1% traffic increase in March compared to a year ago, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) said in its latest report.Capacity climbed 30.5% and load factor pushed up seven percentage points to 79.4%.International revenue passenger-kilometres (RPKs) performed by Middle East carriers grew 43.1% YoY, recovering to 92.5% of 2019 levels, IATA noted.Total traffic in March 2023 (measured in revenue passenger kilometres or RPKs) rose 52.4% compared to March 2022. Globally, traffic is now at 88.0% of March 2019 levels.Domestic traffic for March rose 34.1% compared to the year-ago period. Total March 2023 domestic traffic was at 98.9% of the March 2019 level.International traffic climbed 68.9% versus March 2022 with all markets recording healthy growth, led once again by carriers in the Asia-Pacific region. International RPKs reached 81.6% of March 2019 levels while the load factor at 81.3% exceeded the March 2019 level by 10.1 percentage points.Asia-Pacific airlines had a 283.1% increase in March 2023 traffic compared to March 2022, continuing the robust momentum since the lifting of travel restrictions in the region. Capacity rose 161.5% and the load factor increased 26.8 percentage points to 84.5%, the second highest among the regions.European carriers posted a 38.5% traffic rise versus March 2022. Capacity climbed 27.0%, and load factor rose 6.6 percentage points to 79.4%, which was the second lowest among the regions.North American carriers’ traffic climbed 51.6% in March 2023 versus the 2022 period. Capacity increased 34.0%, and load factor rose 9.8 percentage points to 84.8%, the highest among the regions.Latin American airlines had a 36.5% traffic increase compared to the same month in 2022. March capacity climbed 33.4% and load factor rose 1.9 percentage points to 82.8%.African airlines’ traffic rose 71.7% in March 2023 versus a year ago, the second highest among the regions. March capacity was up 56.2% and load factor climbed 6.5 percentage points to 72.2%, lowest among the regions.Indian airlines’ domestic demand climbed 20.3% in March and was 10.0% above the March 2019 levels.IATA’s Director General Willie Walsh said, “The calendar year first quarter ended on a strong note for air travel demand. Domestic markets have been near their pre-pandemic levels for months. And for international travel two key waypoints were topped. First, demand increased by 3.5 percentage points compared to the previous month’s growth, to reach 81.6% of pre-Covid levels.“This was led by a near-tripling of demand for Asia-Pacific carriers as China’s re-opening took hold. And efficiency is improving as international load factors reached 81.3%. Even more importantly, ticket sales for both domestic and international travel give every indication that strong growth will continue into the peak Northern Hemisphere summer travel season.“As traveller expectations build towards the peak Northern Hemisphere summer travel season, airlines are doing their best to meet the desire and need to fly. Unfortunately, a lack of capacity means that some of those travellers may be disappointed. Part of this capacity shortfall is attributable to the widely reported labour shortages impacting many parts of the aviation value chain, as well as supply chain issues affecting the aircraft manufacturing sector that is resulting in aircraft delivery delays.“However, a significant share of recent flight cancellations, primarily in Europe, are owing to job actions by air traffic controllers and others. These irresponsible actions resulted in thousands of unnecessary cancellations in March. This is unacceptable and should not be tolerated by the authorities,” Walsh added.

The decision by the United States Transportation Administration not to officially delay the deadline for airlines to refit planes with new sensors for addressing possible 5G interference, may cause flight disruptions during the peak summer months.US Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said that the airlines concerned were told the July 1 deadline remained in place.Airlines have repeatedly warned that they will not be able to meet the deadline and may be forced to ground some planes.Telecoms firms have previously delayed 5G rollout to allow airlines to adapt.The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and aviation companies have previously raised concerns that C-Band spectrum 5G wireless could interfere with aircraft altimeters, which measure a plane's height above the ground.In a recent call, Buttigieg urged the airline companies to work aggressively to retrofit their planes before the deadline that expires on July 1.That said, three US telecos - AT&T Services, T-Mobile, UScellular, and Verizon agreed to extend until January 1, 2028 the “voluntary mitigation measures” for 5G C-band transmissions at 188 US airports.These mitigation measures, which were put in place in January 2022, concurrent with the rollout of 5G C-band operations at or near US airports, include lowering the power of 5G transmissions and had been set to expire July 1 this year.The latest agreement by the telcos to defer until January 2028 full power-up of 5G C-band transmissions near airports certainly buys time, but does not necessarily address underlying issues.The global body of airlines IATA noted: “While the agreement is a welcome stop-gap development, it is by no means a solution. The underlying safety and economic issues around 5G C-band deployments by telecommunications services providers (telcos) have only been kicked down the road.”“Airlines did not create this situation. They are victims of poor government planning and co-ordination. Industry concerns about 5G, expressed for many years in the appropriate forums, were ignored and over-ridden. Half-measure solutions have been foisted upon airlines to implement at their own expense and with little visibility into their long-term viability.“This extension is an opportunity for all stakeholders, including telcos, government regulators, airlines and equipment manufacturers, to work together for a fair and equitable solution,” said Nick Careen, IATA’s senior vice president (Operations, Safety and Security).“Many airlines have indicated that despite their best efforts they will not meet the July 1 deadline owing to supply chain issues. But even for those that do, these investments will bring no gains in operating efficiency. Furthermore, this is only a temporary holding action. Under current scenarios, airlines will have to retrofit most of their aircraft twice in just five years.“And with the standards for the second retrofit yet to be developed we could easily be facing the same supply chain issues in 2028 that we are struggling with today. This is patently unfair and wasteful. We need a more rational approach that does not place the entire burden for addressing this unfortunate situation on aviation,” Careen added.Industry experts say the rollout of 5G technology in the United States could potentially have an impact on airlines, specifically on their use of radio altimeters during landings.Radio altimeters are instruments that use radio waves to measure the distance between an aircraft and the ground, which is crucial for safe landings, particularly in low-visibility conditions.The frequencies used by 5G technology are close to those used by radio altimeters, which has raised concerns that 5G signals could interfere with the accuracy of the altimeters, potentially causing pilots to receive incorrect altitude readings during landings.This could lead to safety issues, such as planes touching down too soon or too late, which could result in accidents.To mitigate this potential risk, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and Federal Communications Commission (FCC) have been working closely with airlines and telecommunication companies to establish safety protocols and implement safeguards to prevent interference with radio altimeters.Some of the measures include reducing the power of 5G signals near airports and conducting testing to ensure that radio altimeters are not affected by 5G transmissions.But while the rollout of 5G technology in the United States could potentially have an impact on airlines, steps are being taken to ensure that any potential risks are minimised and that the safety of air travel is not compromised.Pratap John is Business Editor at Gulf Times. Twitter handle: @PratapJohn