Qatar Airways has revealed it will hold talks with Qantas next week over a possible partnership with the Australian carrier.
Chief executive Akbar Al Baker today said the airline will “most certainly” look to work with Qantas. He confirmed codeshares in the Australian domestic market and up into Singapore are being explored.
“Most certainly we will have a partnership with Qantas,” Al Baker said at a press conference in Perth today to mark yesterday’s inaugural flight between Doha and the West Australian capital.
“Qantas under Alan Joyce has taken a very positive attitude towards Qatar and Emirates and we hope that both our airlines will be able to work with Qantas closely going forward. We can only make ourselves stronger with this sort of partnership."
Al Baker also revealed for the first time that the carrier will join an alliance in the next 12 months.
“We do not know which alliance it will be but we will join one within 12 months,” he said in response to a question from Travel Today.
Meanwhile, a $1.2 million marketing campaign jointly funded by Qatar and Tourism Western Australia has been launched to coincide with the new services from Doha. The two year agreement will see the state’s top tourism attractions promoted overseas.
“After the success of our Melbourne route we have been eagerly awaiting our arrival into Perth and the route is already showing popularity with very good forward bookings,” Al Baker said.
