QATAR Airways is planning a code-share partnership with IndiGo, a move that will funnel more traffic from the fast-growing Indian air-travel market to the Gulf carrier's network.
'It is not something about buying a stake, it's commercial,' CEO Akbar Al Baker said in an interview.
Qatar Airways has been looking to expand in the fast-growing Indian market but plans to start a new carrier there have been frustrated over rules surrounding foreign ownership. Instead, the airline has asked local authorities to temporarily allow it to add more seats on high-volume routes to fill the gap left by Jet Airways, a partner of rival Etihad Airways, which went bust in April.
Indigo has emerged as the biggest Indian airline following the collapse of Jet Airways. The carrier recently ordered 300 narrow-body jets from Airbus SE - one of the European plane makers' biggest ever deals, reports Bloomberg.
Qatar Airways could break even within the next two years, the CEO said, even after full-year losses increased by nearly ten-fold on higher fuel costs and a weaker regional economy. The carrier has also been affected by a tough operating environment caused by Saudi-led airspace closures.
'We are now back to our pre-blockade growth and we hope that we will come to profitability soon,' Mr Al Baker said.
WORLD SHIPPING
'It is not something about buying a stake, it's commercial,' CEO Akbar Al Baker said in an interview.
Qatar Airways has been looking to expand in the fast-growing Indian market but plans to start a new carrier there have been frustrated over rules surrounding foreign ownership. Instead, the airline has asked local authorities to temporarily allow it to add more seats on high-volume routes to fill the gap left by Jet Airways, a partner of rival Etihad Airways, which went bust in April.
Indigo has emerged as the biggest Indian airline following the collapse of Jet Airways. The carrier recently ordered 300 narrow-body jets from Airbus SE - one of the European plane makers' biggest ever deals, reports Bloomberg.
Qatar Airways could break even within the next two years, the CEO said, even after full-year losses increased by nearly ten-fold on higher fuel costs and a weaker regional economy. The carrier has also been affected by a tough operating environment caused by Saudi-led airspace closures.
'We are now back to our pre-blockade growth and we hope that we will come to profitability soon,' Mr Al Baker said.
WORLD SHIPPING