Al-Baker speaks about open skies and Qatar Airways’ expansion plans in the US at a press conference in Washington DC yesterday. Open skies agreements are all about offering choices, he said.

Qatar Airways group chief executive Akbar al-Baker has called for continued open skies in the US and again denied accusations by three American airlines of government subsidies to the Doha-based airline.
At a press conference in Washington DC yesterday al-Baker refuted the “baseless” claims of the “Big Three” US airlines (American, Delta and United), calling them “a transparent attempt to block new competition and limit consumer choice.”
“US open skies agreements are about offering choice – the ability to fly with the airline you prefer, to regions, which are under-served by US carriers,” al-Baker said. “The Big Three want to restrict choice. World travellers would suffer if they succeed.”
Al-Baker said the open skies agreements go well beyond the interests of the ‘Big Three’.
He cited numerous American companies and groups, which support open skies agreements, including US airports, travel and trade groups, consumer groups and other US airlines.
“Qatar Airways offers important services to the US and many American interests recognise our value. We serve markets in the Gulf region and Indian subcontinent that US carriers do not serve,” al-Baker pointed out.
Qatar Airways passengers support local economies in the US, he said.
In 2014 alone, the airline brought 248,000 visitors to the US and made a significant contribution of $900mn to US economies and employment, all thanks to open skies.
Qatar Airways currently operates over $19bn worth of direct-purchase Boeing aircraft with future deliveries of another $50bn to come.
“The Big Three do not compete with us on a single nonstop route. The beneficial exchange of culture and commerce made possible by the US-Qatar open skies agreement must not be blocked by the Big Three merely because we have chosen to serve markets that they have ignored,” al-Baker added.
During his visit, al-Baker also met with government officials and prepared for upcoming US launches to Los Angeles, Boston, and Atlanta. Page 2


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