Qatar Airways: 'India is a big market...we will definitely start operations there'

Qatar Airways Group CEO Akbar Al Baker stated the carrier is firm on plans to launch an airline in India despite facing business challenges because of sanctions imposed on Qatar by some Gulf countries (The Hindu, 28-Aug-2017). "India is a big market and we will definitely start operations there", he said. He however said the carrier has no interest in Air India as "we want to launch our own airline". Mr Al Baker accused some carriers in India of trying to block Qatar Airways from its plan but hoped the "Indian government will not favour them only". "We will overcome this opposition because travellers in India deserve more", he said, citing the government's business friendly policies.