Qatar Airways CEO Akbar al-Baker said the airline was currently contemplating setting up its own low-cost carrier in the face of increasing competition from the region budget carrier sector, UAE daily Emirates Business 24/7 reported yesterday.
“Launching a low-cost carrier is becoming a fashion now and we may soon join the fashion too… we will not be tying up with any low-cost airline. If the influx of low-cost carriers into the market is going to hurt my market share, yes, we will launch our own low-cost carrier,” al-Baker said, the newspaper quoted.
Currently there are three budget carriers that operate out of Qatar, including Sharjah-based Air Arabia, India’s Air India Express and Bahrain Air.
“A low-cost is not really low-cost in our region. And the model does not actually work in our region. But we will have to do something if my market share is hurt,” al-Baker said.
“Personally, I am still against the idea of a low-cost carrier. But joining the bandwagon would not be because I am for the idea.”
“Launching a low-cost carrier is becoming a fashion now and we may soon join the fashion too… we will not be tying up with any low-cost airline. If the influx of low-cost carriers into the market is going to hurt my market share, yes, we will launch our own low-cost carrier,” al-Baker said, the newspaper quoted.
Currently there are three budget carriers that operate out of Qatar, including Sharjah-based Air Arabia, India’s Air India Express and Bahrain Air.
“A low-cost is not really low-cost in our region. And the model does not actually work in our region. But we will have to do something if my market share is hurt,” al-Baker said.
“Personally, I am still against the idea of a low-cost carrier. But joining the bandwagon would not be because I am for the idea.”
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