Qatar Airways will not claim, or pay, volcano-related compensation
Qatar Airways CEO, Akbar Al Baker, stated the carrier would not claim compensation for the recent airport closures from volcanic ash, unless it was "pressured" to compensate passengers (Arabian Business, 05-May-2010). The carrier lost approximately USD5 million per day during to the closures.
Qatar Airways: "Why should I compensate the passenger? You closed the airport, I didn't cancel the flight. You closed the airport and the airspace. We will not pay any compensation for that. If we are pressured to pay compensation by any law then we will have to demand compensation from the EU. We are not asking for anything. It is an act of God so what can we do? If it is an act of God the airline should not be liable for compensation," Akbar Al Baker, CEO. Source: Arabian Business, 05-May-2010.