Al-Meer’s comments herald a bold new chapter anchored around U.S.-built aircraft, but they're also a reaffirmation of Qatar Airways’ pragmatic and often opportunistic fleet strategy.
Just when airlines thought it was safe to grow again, Akbar Al Baker offers a different forecast: turbulent trade wars and a supply chain hijacked by global conflict. Seatbelts, it seems, should remain fastened.
While these are very early days, the return of Qatar Airways to Damascus could tempt other international carriers to put the Syrian capital back on the route map.
This big budget safety video from Qatar Airways is likely to reignite a long-running industry debate: What is the right balance between passenger engagement and clarity of messaging?