The Indian economy will further benefit by enhancing the country’s tourism through ‘open skies’, Qatar Airways Group chief executive Akbar al-Baker has said.
“I have always said this…and I keep on saying this…India is an economic giant. But unfortunately, that potential is not being properly used. You have 7% growth...the highest GDP growth today. But are the grassroots people benefiting?” al-Baker asked.
On whether the reported proposal before the Indian government to have open skies with countries that are over 5,000km away would hamper the interests of airlines such as Qatar Airways, which are keen to serve the Indian diaspora, al-Baker said, “But this is a suggestion…honest suggestion as a friend of India that this is not conducive to the economic growth of India.”
“I am not the Government of India. I have to respect whatever decision the Government of India will make,” al-Baker told Gulf Times on the sidelines of the 72nd IATA AGM at the Royal Dublin Society.
Al-Baker said at the recent India Aviation (summit) in Hyderabad, where an Indian federal minister was present at a CEO session, he had mentioned this. “I was endorsed by several other foreign (airlines) CEOs.”
Reports from India suggest that the Indian government is considering a proposal to allow airlines from countries, which are over 5,000km away from India to operate as many flights as they like.
The issue on whether the Indian government should follow an open sky policy for countries beyond 5,000km from India will be firmed up after New Delhi decides on the civil aviation policy, a report said.
Al-Baker said, “Once you open…once you encourage tourism, which an airline does…once you increase even more trade…you create more jobs. And what kind of jobs…jobs to the level of the people who today have no jobs.”
“HE the Prime Minister of India wants the growth to reach every Indian…not just a certain sector. And this can only happen when you open up.”
He said, “When the previous government (a decade ago) opened up, giving rights to airlines; did you measure how much tourism grew? It grew because of that (opening up). It did not grow because you built more hotels. It grew because airlines started bringing in more frequencies. More people came to India.”
Asked whether the issue would come up as Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi was set to visit Qatar on Saturday, the Qatar Airways chief said, “No. His is a ‘return visit’ because HH the Emir visited India and he was the first Muslim leader to congratulate Mr Modi on his victory.”
Of course, al-Baker said, “There is a lot of economic and political relationship” between Qatar and India.
“Aviation is not all about this relationship.”  
Al-Baker said, “India is a friend of Qatar. And Qatar is a friend of India. So, between the friends, there will be trade and there will be favours. Qatar did a great thing to the development of India by reducing the energy costs for them.
“I do not want to preempt any discussions because I will not be privy to the discussions that will take place between our leaders. I am always hopeful…I am always optimistic,” al-Baker said.
Qatar Airways is a major connector between India and the world with as many as 102 passenger flights between Doha and 13 cities in the country. Currently, Qatar’s national carrier flies to Ahmedabad, Amritsar, Goa, Kolkata, Chennai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Mumbai, Nagpur, Kozhikode, Thiruvananthapuram, Delhi and Kochi. Page 20