Qatar Airways will gradually increase frequencies and achieve the open skies with European Union (EU) within five years, Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive HE Akbar al-Baker said on Monday.
“We were the first country in the region to accept and sign a comprehensive air services agreement with the EU. This is because we are very open, are a very progressive country. It was a long negotiation of nearly four years between us and the EU. Eventually with the participation of all the EU carriers who were present during the talks, we managed to respond to all their concerns and finally succeeded in signing the comprehensive air services agreement,” he told reporters on the sidelines of the 78th IATA AGM in Doha yesterday.
Al-Baker said, “It does not mean that tomorrow I can fly all over Europe as many times as I want. It is over a period of nearly five years that we will gradually increase frequencies and eventually achieve the open sky regime.”
Earlier, Qatar’s Ministry of Transport had said, “Per the Agreement, the companies concerned from all intended countries will enjoy an easy and free access to markets with less restrictions, aiming to significantly boost the opportunities of competition which all parties were keen they shall be fair and shall ensure the application of the principles of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) through allowing fair and equal opportunities for all parties.”
“We were the first country in the region to accept and sign a comprehensive air services agreement with the EU. This is because we are very open, are a very progressive country. It was a long negotiation of nearly four years between us and the EU. Eventually with the participation of all the EU carriers who were present during the talks, we managed to respond to all their concerns and finally succeeded in signing the comprehensive air services agreement,” he told reporters on the sidelines of the 78th IATA AGM in Doha yesterday.
Al-Baker said, “It does not mean that tomorrow I can fly all over Europe as many times as I want. It is over a period of nearly five years that we will gradually increase frequencies and eventually achieve the open sky regime.”
Earlier, Qatar’s Ministry of Transport had said, “Per the Agreement, the companies concerned from all intended countries will enjoy an easy and free access to markets with less restrictions, aiming to significantly boost the opportunities of competition which all parties were keen they shall be fair and shall ensure the application of the principles of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) through allowing fair and equal opportunities for all parties.”