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4-Jul-2012 12:11 PM

Qatar Airways expresses interest in launching a new Saudi Arabian airline

Qatar Airways CEO Akbar Al Baker expressed interest (03-Jul-2012) in launching an airline registered in Saudi Arabia. Mr Al Baker met with Saudi Arabian General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) chairman Fahad bin Abdullah Al Saud to discuss a new start-up. Mr Al Baker stated Saudi Arabia is an underserved market and represented a key growth area, in which Qatar Airways is keen to invest. He also expressed concern over excessive fuel charges and the Saudi domestic fare cap. Mr Al Baker stressed "other airlines operating domestic flights within Saudi Arabia were facing the same problem of rising costs, pointing out these needed to be seriously addressed". As previously reported, GACA announced in Dec-2011 it would award licences to foreign airlines to operate from Saudi airports. [more - original PR]

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