Qatar Airways CEO discusses with CNN on challenges faced by the airline industry during the pandemic

Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive Akbar Al Baker during an exclusive interview on CNN’s Quest Means Business spoke about the various challenges the airline industry is facing during the novel coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic.

During the interview, he stated that, “By the time this pandemic is over, there will only be few airlines that are strong and will continue operating. A lot of other airlines will go under. And this will continue to happen, because we have not seen the worst of it over yet.”

Al Baker also cautioned that come back of the airline industry to its full strength should be the main priority to reinforce the global economic outlook as he highlighted that, “If this pandemic prolongs for too long, this will completely destroy the world's economy which is so dependent on airlines for delivering business, carrying freight around, and most importantly creating jobs.”

Al Baker discussed with CNN’s Richard Quest on the safety preventive measures followed by the airline at Hamad International Airport in Doha and on board its planes. These consists of high-tech temperature sensors, ultraviolet disinfectant processes, and mask-wearing on flights. Al Baker said: “I can assure you as the CEO of an airline, my biggest priority is to protect my passengers and my crew. All the precautions we have taken and the measurements we take, infections on airplanes is minimal.”

The CEO also spoke about vaccination access and alleviating the possible risks amid slow vaccine rollouts in few countries.

“It will be a problem for the aviation industry. And we will have to work a way within these risks that we will have to take. But we will have to do things, we'll have to put processes, we'll have to put systems in place to mitigate that risk,” he added.

.@qatarairways was in "uncharted waters" when the pandemic began, CEO Akbar Al Baker says. Now, a year later, he tells @RichardQuest (in person!) how the airline is staying safe & mitigating risk. Plus: A tour of @HIAQatar & why Al Baker predicts "other airlines will go under." pic.twitter.com/kV7LOPifs6
— Quest Means Business (@questCNN) April 19, 2021