Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive Akbar Al Baker resigned after leading the airline for 27 years.
Qatar Airways said on Monday that Al Baker’s retirement will be effective November 5. His successor will be Badr Mohammed Al-Meer, who currently serves as chief operating officer of Doha Hamad International Airport, the hub of Qatari national carrier.
Qatar Airways said in a statement on Monday that under Al Baker’s leadership, the airline “has grown into one of the best-known and most trusted brands in the world.” The company noted that it had won seven “World’s Best Airline” awards, among other allocations.
During his time at Qatar Airways, Al Baker became known as one of the most outspoken leaders in the aviation industry, taking a tough and sometimes confrontational approach to negotiations with manufacturers and other parties.
Al Baker has also made some controversial comments about his career – including Suggested women should not run airlines and called American Airlines “garbage” and that their passengers are “always served by grandma.” He later apologized for both comments.
Last year, Al Baker lash out Critics of Qatar’s hosting of the World Cup say it will “forever rub salt in the wounds of its opponents” after some other countries and football teams raised concerns about how it manages its own national teams. A large number of low-income migrant workers and its Position on LGBTQ rights.
In July, Qatar Airways reported Profit $1.2 billion The growth in the past financial year was partly driven by the country’s hosting of the 2022 FIFA World Cup. That was down slightly from the $1.5 billion profit reported the previous year, in part due to a surge in operating expenses, especially jet fuel bills as energy prices rose as the pandemic eased and air travel resumed.
Qatar Airways’ revenue for the fiscal year was $20.9 billion, up from $14.4 billion the previous year.
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