Qatar Airways invests despite uncertainty

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Qatar Airways is to add eight new aircraft to its fleet in 2003, despite uncertainty about possible war with Iraq and concern about the aviation market in the Middle East

In a speech last week, Qatar Airways' ceo Akbar Al Baker said that although the situation in the Middle East should not be taken lightly, it would not affect the airline's plans for growth. This year, it will add two A330-200s, one A300-600R, four A320s and one A319 to its fleet, bringing the total number of aircraft to 28.

Al Baker took over as ceo in 1996 and helped to relaunch the carrier a year later. Al Baker predicted that the buoyant Gulf economies would continue to encourage the growth of traffic direct to the region, with new routes opening up and new hub airports being developed.

The state of Qatar owns 49% of the airline. Aer Rianta International-Middle East operates the inflight duty-free programme.