Skift Take
Lufthansa's sabre rattling and allusions to threats out of Iran sound like something spoken a decade or two ago. Whatever century its from, it sounds like the words of a man who's losing.
Qatar Airways Ltd. Chief Executive Officer Akbar Al Baker said he’d have contemplated joining Deutsche Lufthansa AG’s Star Alliance had the German company not proved so hostile to the growth of Persian Gulf carriers.
The Middle East’s second-largest airline signed up to the Oneworld group last week after receiving overtures from British Airways that contrasted with the attitude of long-standing partner Lufthansa, Al Baker said in an interview in London.
“My first code-share with a European carrier was with Lufthansa, but unfortunately their strategy is to kill competition,” he said. “It is to shun Gulf carriers, and I think they have lost in this very lucrative alliance chess game.”
Qatar Air, the first Gulf recruit to a global alliance, is due to become a full Oneworld member within 18 months but could join in less than 12, said Al Baker, who spoke after addressing the Aviation Club in London, where he was seated with Willie Walsh, CEO of BA parent IAG. Walsh is “forward looking” and wise to the benefits of avoiding the enmity shown by some Europeans as Gulf carriers grab lucrative long-haul traffic, he said.
“Oneworld saw the synergies between their network and us,” Al Baker said. “They wanted a strong airline in the Gulf Cooperation Council that will give them immediate huge access to the Midd
