QATAR Airways (QA) is expected to launch an initial public offering as early as 2012.
Speaking in late December, chief executive Akbar Al Baker said: “We have always said we will go in for an IPO once we register three consecutive years of profit. In the last financial year, we realised a net profit. This year also we are heading towards a net profit and continue to be hopeful in the next finanacial year as well.”
Marking the opening of the new temporary terminal at Doha International Airport Al Baker said the airline is also considering the possibility of buying additional A380 Airbus superjumbos. The carrier currently has five 555-seat double-decker planes on an order book worth around $35bn.
The airline hopes to carry 16 million passengers in the financial year ending March.
Beginning this month it will introduce its flagship Boeing 777 aircraft for the first time in Spain, operating on the daily non-stop Doha – Madrid route offering more capacity than the Airbus A330s currently serving the city. In June 2010 Qatar launched its second Spanish destination with daily flights to Barcelona.
And the airline’s European portfolio of routes will be strengthened over the next three months with new flights to Bucharest and Budapest starting on January 17, Brussels from January 31 and Stuttgart beginning March 6.
By 2013, Qatar Airways plans to serve 120 key destinations worldwide with a fleet of 120 aircraft. Today, the airline has 92 planes with orders for 80 Airbus A350s, 60 Boeing 787 Dreamliners, 29 Boeing 777s, eight Airbus A321s and five Airbus A380-800 superjumbos. Al Baker recently reiterated his faith in the Boeing 787 Dreamliner programme, stating there were no plans to cancel or change the order despite continued delays.