Qatar Airways Group chief executive Akbar Al Baker is stepping down after 27 years leading the company.
Al Baker’s retirement will go into effect Nov. 5, Qatar Airways said. He will be succeeded by Badr Mohammed Al-Meer — who currently serves as the chief operating officer of Hamad International Airport in Doha, the hub of Qatar’s national carrier.
Qatar Airways said that it “has grown to become one of the most recognisable and trusted brands globally” under Al Baker’s leadership. The company pointed to seven “World’s Best Airline” wins, among other allocates.
During his tenure at Qatar Airways, Al Baker became known for being one of the most outspoken leaders in the airline industry — with a hard-changing, sometimes confrontational approach that carried into negotiations with manufacturers and others.
In a startling turn of events, Qatar Airways Group CEO Akbar Al Baker has announced his resignation from the airline, marking the end of his remarkable 27-year tenure. The unexpected decision, revealed on Monday, is set to take effect on November 5. Al Baker, a prominent figure in the aviation industry, has been at the helm of Qatar Airways since its inception in 1997, and his departure signifies the end of an era in the airline’s history.
Qatar Airways confirmed Al Baker’s resignation in an official press release, highlighting his pivotal role in transforming the carrier into a world-class and innovative airline. Notably, Al Baker also held leadership positions in subsidiary companies, including Qatar Executive and Hamad International Airport. Under his guidance, the airline, which initially operated with just five aircraft in 1996, has expanded its fleet to an impressive 258 aircraft.
In a heartfelt note addressed to the airline’s employees, Al Baker expressed his gratitude and announced his departure, stating, “After 27 years of service, I am writing to you to announce that I will step down from the Qatar Airways Group. In 1996, with a fleet of just five aircraft, unwavering dedication, and a loyal and passionate team, together we embarked on a remarkable journey to aviation excellence. From that very first day, our journey has been nothing short of extraordinary.”
The airline’s new group CEO will be Badr Mohammed al Meer, currently serving as the Chief Operating Officer of Hamad International Airport in Doha. Al Baker’s successor will be entrusted with the monumental task of continuing his legacy and leading Qatar Airways into a new era.
Qatar Airways’ journey, under Akbar Al Baker’s leadership, reflects the audacious ambition of a nation with a small population but a strategic geographical location. With a population of half a million and an area spanning approximately 4,500 square miles, Qatar lacked a substantial home market for a large airline. However, the country’s visionary leadership aimed to reduce its reliance on oil and natural gas, and Al Baker played a key role in making this vision a reality.
Qatar Airways began as a regional carrier in 1994 but was relaunched in 1997 under the mandate of Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, who envisioned the airline becoming a global aviation leader. The airline is renowned for maintaining one of the world’s youngest fleets and for being one of the fastest-growing airlines globally. Notably, Qatar Airways was the global launch customer for both variants of the Airbus A350 aircraft.
Notably, Qatar Airways distinguished itself by joining the Oneworld alliance in 2013, becoming the only one of the prominent Middle Eastern airlines to be part of an airline alliance.
Here are five things you need to know about Baker, who built Qatar Airways into a leading air carrier.
1. According to the airline’s website, Baker is a graduate in Economics and Commerce and worked at various levels in the Civil Aviation Directorate before taking over as Qatar Airways CEO in 1997.
2. He holds a private pilot license and is also CEO of several divisions of Qatar’s national airline – including Qatar Executive, Hamad International Airport, Qatar Aviation Services, Qatar Aircraft Catering Company, Qatar Distribution Company, Qatar Duty Free and Internal Media Services.
3. Al Baker built Qatar Airways into a long-distance powerhouse challenging Gulf rival Emirates. His devotion to delivering a premium experience won plaudits from customers but led to clashes with manufacturers Airbus SE and Boeing Co, Bloomberg reported.
4. Al Baker went to court with Airbus over an issue with flaking paint on widebody A350 jets. The matter was settled earlier this year.
5. He also courted controversy with comments at a 2018 event that a woman could not do his job “because it is a very challenging position.” Baker’s retirement has been anticipated for several years but he has always said he would step down when he was asked to.
