Qatar Airways has explained its rationale for a decision to join an airline alliance.
Chief executive Akbar Al Baker revealed to Travel Today yesterday its intention to sign with either Star, Oneworld or Skyteam within 12 months.
Al Baker said Qatar has already forged partnerships with airlines which he described as alliances in all but name.
Formally joining an alliance was the next logical step that world “create benefits for both sides”, he said.
“All of the airlines in the region have some kind of partnership,” he told Travel Today. ”It could be codeshares, it could be burning (frequent flyer miles) miles. One way or another it leads to different levels of an alliance even though we don’t call it an alliance. For example, we are not part of Star Alliance but we are codesharing with several of their allance partners.
“The only difference is when you get into an alliance you do it with a big chunk of people.”
Al Baker declined to be drawn on which alliance he favoured.
But with Qatar poised to ink a codeshare with Qantas and Al Baker a known admirer of British Airways chief executive Willie Walsh, Oneworld is thought likely to sign the Doha-based carrier.
Walsh also predicted that of all the Gulf carriers, Qatar would be the most likely to join an alliance.
