Akbar Al Baker, Group Chief Executive of Qatar Airways, with other officials inaugurating the 12th ACI Asia Pacific Regional Assembly Conference and Exhibition at St Regis Hotel yesterday. Pic: Ibrahim R O
Qatar Airways is planning to expand cargo operations, said Akbar Al Baker, Group Chief Executive of Qatar Airways.
"Yes, we are going to expand in cargo. We are keeping on receiving more freighters. There is big requirement for the correct capacity freighters and this is enabling Qatar Airways to grow," said Al Baker, talking to reporters on sidelines of opening ceremony of 12th ACI Asia Pacific Regional Assembly Conference and Exhibition. "We are now the third largest air cargo carrier in the world. We grew very rapidly to the third position and this is because whatever we do in Qatar Airways, we plan it so robustly in order for us to achieve our targets," he added.
"This is the first time that ACI os coming in this region. It (Airport Council International) is very important institution. It gives us even more bigger recognition around the world as one of the top airports and one of the top hub in the world" he added.
Hamad International Airport (HIA) has seen impressive growth in passenger traffic this year so far. The growth is expected to be in double digits in the current year, said a senior official of HIA. "HIA has witnessed 11 percent growth in passenger traffic during January to till date compared to same period in the previous year. In 2017, we expect a very high growth- a double digit growth," said Eng Base Mohammed Al Meer, COO at HIA.
