Interview: we chat with Badr Al-Meer, the new CEO of Qatar Airways

There is, as usual, a lot going on at Qatar Airways, not least the launch of the impressive Qsuite Next Gen business class seat which we covered yesterday.

I joined a pool interview with the new Qatar Airways CEO, Badr Al-Meer. Badr replaced Akbar Al Baker last year, who left the airline after 27 years in the top job.

Akbar was a graduate of the Michael O’Leary charm school (or vice versa) so his softly spoken replacement represents a firm change, potentially deliberate, in approach.

Because this was a pool interview, there were a number of different journalists asking questions. This means that the areas covered are not necessarily those that we would have raised ourselves in a 1-2-1, but I thought it was worth sharing the whole discussion.

On the future of the A380 ….

Akbar Al Baker had been very vocal in his dislike of the A380 and only brought it back because he was desperate for aircraft. The new boss has a different view. The A380 is now seen as the ideal aircraft for capacity controlled destinations, especially London – due to slot issues – and Australia, due to Qantas successfully lobbying to stop foreign carriers getting full access.

The fleet will now be upgraded. The first task is a new wi-fi system to bring speeds up to the level of other Qatar aircraft. Options for cabin upgrades are also being looked at.

Based on other conversations I had, the A380 fleet will remain until at least 2028.

On First Class ….

Qatar Airways will include a First Class cabin on its upcoming widebody aircraft order. Badr said that he was due to see the first prototype of the new seat this week, although it will not be flying for a number of years. It will not be retrofitted onto any existing aircraft.

On the new aircraft order ….

Qatar Airways issued a tender in March for a substantial aircraft order. It does not intend to make a commitment until the first quarter of 2025.

On the delayed Boeing 777-9 order ….

Despite the multi-year delays to this aircraft – which has also impacted British Airways – Badr says that he now has a firm commitment from Boeing to deliver the Boeing 777-9 from the first quarter of 2026. Everything – Qsuite Next Gen manufacturing etc – is being ramped up to meet this.

Earlier on Tuesday, Qatar Airways announced an order for an additional 20 Boeing 777-9 aircraft. This takes the total to 60, as well as 34 cargo variants.

On increasing competition ….

Whilst Riyadh Air, the new Saudi Arabian carrier, and Air India are in the process of acquiring substantial long-haul fleets, Qatar Airways does not see cause for concern.

Passenger numbers will rise from 45 million last year to 52-53 million this year, and it remains capacity constrained. It sees the market for Middle East / Indian hub flights to continue to grow and to absorb whatever capacity Riyadh Air and Air India add.

On a new equity investment in Southern Africa ….

Qatar Airways is in discussions to take a stake in a Southern African carrier. The deal will be announced in 2-3 weeks. I suspect it may be Airlink although this was not brought up.

The airline has an existing partnership with Royal Air Maroc to provide feed from Northern Africa, and with RwandAir to provide feed from Central Africa. Qatar Airways has invested in Kigali Airport as well as in RwandAir itself.

On an investment in Virgin Australia ….

No comment. This deal has been widely rumoured, however.

On pricing ….

Despite well reported profit warnings from the main US carriers and Ryanair in recent days, Qatar Airways is not seeing strong downward price pressure.

Anecdotally, I would agree – we have not seen any aggressive sale pricing from the airline recently. July 2024 was ‘well up’ on July 2023 and overall demand is still strong.

On being the new broom ….

‘New CEO, same strategy’ was the message we got – the strategy, of course, is to be the best and most profitable airline in the world.

It is clear that Badr has been keen to reset certain relationships with partners who had faced the wrath of Akbar Al Baker in the past. The relationship with IAG, parent of British Airways (25% owned by Qatar Airways) ‘has never been better, but can be improved further’.

The relationship with Airbus, which was at breaking point over issues with the A350 fleet, is ‘good’. Airbus has been invited to tender for the new widebody order and is delivering aircraft ahead of schedule at the moment. The Airbus CEO was also at a Qatar Airways lunch I attended.