Qatar Airways to apply for launch of an Indian airline: Al Baker

June 6, 2018: Qatar Group Chief Executive Akbar Al Baker has reportedly said that his company is planning to move an application to launch a full-service airline in India for domestic operations.

He said this on the sidelines of the IATA Annual General Meeting. The proposed airline would be fully financed by Qatar’s sovereign fund. It would have Indians heading the board and as most of its members.

In March 2017, Al Baker first mentioned about the airlines’ plans for a carrier in India and in February this year, he had said it plans to launch an airline in India with at least 100 planes.

As per the current guidelines, foreign investors, barring foreign airlines, are permitted to own up to 100 percent stake in local carriers. It allows foreign investment arms to own 51 percent, while the foreign airline can hold up to 49 percent stake.

Al Baker has recently been elected as the Chairman of the Board of Governors of the International Air Transport Association (IATA).