Qatar Airways CEO Akbar Al Baker speaking at the Dean’s Lecture Series at Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar yesterday. (Kammutty VP)
BY MOHAMMAD SHOEB
DOHA: Qatar’s national carrier, Qatar Airways (QA) is all set to fly over 170 destinations in three years with an equal number of aircraft, the airline’s CEO said yesterday.
“We will grow to 170 destinations in under three years, and we will have 170 aircraft in our fleet in as many years”, said Akbar Al Baker while delivering a lecture on “Leadership and the airline’s success story” at Carnegie Mellon University here.
Al Baker’s address, attended by students, journalists and senior members of Qatar Foundation was part of the Dean’s Lecture Series and on the topic Reaching the Top: A Passion for Success.
Asked to comment about cadet programmes and job opportunities for young talents with QA, he said: “We have huge opportunities in Qatar Airways. We have a scholarship programme which is very well received by the aspirants. We have allocated a very large number of positions in which we are training people who want to get into the aviation sector such as airport management, pilot, and engineers. This is very aggressive programme in order to provide them training and job.”
“But one thing is very important in QA. We want people who are dedicated, disciplined and people who are interested not to get a job but interested in a field”, added Al Baker.
“We want serious people as aviation is a very serious business. It is very different from doing a job in the ministries, universities and others. It is so intensely professional, especially when you are dealing with public who form opinion about the airline from your conduct and behaviour.”
He said that QA recruits only the best people who have talent and vision. And it is very successful in attracting young talents.
“I am also very happy and proud that more and more ladies now want to join Qatar Airways because they can see the challenges they have to compete and prove that they are better than none when they come to performing their jobs”, he said.
Qatar Airways in the less than one and half decade has registered a phenomenal growth. Once from small regional airlines with only four aircrafts, today, it has grown into a global player flying to over 100 destinations.
“Fifteen years in the business and we are one of the fastest growing airlines in the world simply because of the dedication, determination and sheer hard work of our management and staff,” he said.
But the rapid pace of growth has also increased the challenges of the carrier. The passengers’ queries and concerned are not addressed then and there, instead they are asked to register their complaints online.
Asked, why there are no people on the ground to answer or sort out the problems of guests immediately, instead of being asked to go to the Internet, he said: “I admit it. We have a fundamental problem. This is because growth also has negative aspects. We are not able to meet the training requirement of the employees due to the fast pace of our growth. But we are stealing people (human resources) from other organizations who are already established.
Al Baker stressed on the importance of embracing change and the ability to rise above challenges that help organisations become bigger and better than their competition.
“Always believe in what you do and settle for nothing but the best. Seize opportunities and never lose faith. This I believe has helped me guide Qatar Airways and reach the remarkable achievement of being named the World’s Best Airline for the second consecutive year”, he said.
The Peninsula
