AL BAKER HITS BACK AT PROTECTIONIST THINKING

Qatar Airways CEO Akbar al-Baker has criticised some European and North American carriers for adopting a protectionist policy. He said,  “They are clearly restricting us… denying our fair share of their civil aviation market,” at a panel discussion on the first day of the Doha Aviation Summit yesterday. He said that Qatar Airways had proved beyond doubt that a proper business model could help an airline grow despite competition or a smaller market. Last month Air France and others attacked the rise of the Middle Eastern carriers and their use of export credit to finance aircraft.