Qatar Airways accuses African governments of protectionism
Qatar Airways CEO Akbar Al Baker has lashed out at African governments, claiming that they prevent his airline from securing landing rights in their countries.
“It’s very important that the authorities revisit this. This closed-door policy is not in the interests of the African people,” he told a media briefing on the second day of the International Air Transport Association’s annual general meeting, in Cape Town.
The issue has been a sore point for years between major carriers and mainly smaller national airlines in Africa.
Al Baker accused such airlines of having “huge influence” over their governments and turning them against allowing major carriers to land in their countries.
By doing this, he said, many governments were depriving their people of jobs as well as tourism, trade and investment opportunities.
“Africa has so much potential, yet, it is badly underserved by airlines. Airlines in Africa are worried that their inefficiencies will be exposed by competition from the outside.”
Al Baker, who is known for his outspokenness, called on the World Bank and International Monetary Fund to advise African governments to grant more landing rights to big foreign carriers, so that more jobs and business opportunities could be opened up in Africa.
He said he understood that national pride was often tied in with national airlines, but stated that leaders needed to have a broader vision.
He believes there is room for both national airlines and Gulf carriers.
“If you increase demand, you’ll increase your number of passengers. It’s a win-win for everybody….rather than do the opposite….closing up and depending on subsidies.”
Qatar Airways has direct daily flights to South Africa.
Some African airlines argue that big carriers will force them out of business and that they have an unfair advantage over African airlines.
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