Call to boycott Qatar Airways Were made in India by “misguided” individuals and don’t worry about the airline, told CEO Akbar Al Baker Hindu on Monday.
Asked if he was concerned about such calls, the Qatar Airways CEO replied with an emphatic “no”.
“It is being done by some misguided people and I don’t want to comment on it. Everyone is free to say whatever they want against anyone,” he said. Hindu on the edge of International Air Transport Association (IATA) Annual General Meeting in Doha.
Earlier this month, several Islamic countries, including Qatar, Kuwait, the UAE and Saudi Arabia, lodged their protest against the offensive. BJP leader Nupur Sharma made remarks against Prophet Mohammad, As a supermarket in Kuwait removed Indian products from its shelves, some in India called for a boycott of Qatar Airways.
But these calls had no real impact on the airline’s passenger demand “because educated people know what happened was just bullshit,” the CEO said.
Recent developments have not dampened Mr. Al Baker’s interest in buying a stake in India’s largest domestic airline, IndiGo. However, he will not take advantage of the heated tussle between the airline’s two promoters Rakesh Gangwal and Rahul Bhatia. The former is exiting the airline and will sell its 36.6% stake in IndiGo over the next five years. A controversial clause that allowed two promoters to have the first right of refusal during a stake sale by one of them was dropped last year, simplifying the process.
“We will buy something from Rahul only” [Bhatia]No one else,” he said of his longtime friend.
Qatar Airways CEO says ‘misleaders’ behind boycott call, not worried about it
Call to boycott Qatar Airways Were made in India by “misguided” individuals and don’t worry about the airline, told CEO Akbar Al Baker Hindu on Monday.
Asked if he was concerned about such calls, the Qatar Airways CEO replied with an emphatic “no”.
“It is being done by some misguided people and I don’t want to comment on it. Everyone is free to say whatever they want against anyone,” he said. Hindu on the edge of International Air Transport Association (IATA) Annual General Meeting in Doha.
Earlier this month, several Islamic countries, including Qatar, Kuwait, the UAE and Saudi Arabia, lodged their protest against the offensive. BJP leader Nupur Sharma made remarks against Prophet Mohammad, As a supermarket in Kuwait removed Indian products from its shelves, some in India called for a boycott of Qatar Airways.
But these calls had no real impact on the airline’s passenger demand “because educated people know what happened was just bullshit,” the CEO said.
Recent developments have not dampened Mr. Al Baker’s interest in buying a stake in India’s largest domestic airline, IndiGo. However, he will not take advantage of the heated tussle between the airline’s two promoters Rakesh Gangwal and Rahul Bhatia. The former is exiting the airline and will sell its 36.6% stake in IndiGo over the next five years. A controversial clause that allowed two promoters to have the first right of refusal during a stake sale by one of them was dropped last year, simplifying the process.
“We will buy something from Rahul only” [Bhatia]No one else,” he said of his longtime friend.