Mr. Al Baker, who was born in Doha in 1962, has been the CEO of Qatar Airways since 1997. Before being tasked with leading Qatar Airways into the 21st century, he also held several posts in the Civil Aviation Directorate of Qatar’s Ministry of Commerce & Economics. He is a graduate of Sydenham College of Commerce & Economics and holds a private pilot’s license.
Training
He later moved from Mumbai to India, where he graduated from Sydenham College of Commerce & Economics. Peter’s St. Baker Al Akbar boarding school in Maharashtra attended.
Career
The nature of those posts remains unclear, but he held various positions within Qatar’s Civil Aviation Directorate as a government employee. Al Baker’s career before becoming the CEO of Qatar is not well-documented. He also served as a previous chairman of the Qatar National Tourism Council.
Over the course of twenty years, an incredibly remarkable expansion has been accomplished, with Al Baker’s consistent leadership directing it, operating over 200 aircraft and serving on more than 100 routes, establishing itself as one of the most esteemed airlines worldwide. When Al Baker assumed control of Qatar Airways in 1997, it was a modest regional airline operating merely four aircraft on a limited number of routes.
The Airport denies that Baker Al’s design of International Hamad Airport in Qatar has been copied from other airports, particularly Changi Airport in Singapore. However, there have been some criticisms of the design, with some saying that it closely resembles Changi Airport. There are further plans to build an ‘airport city’ with more hotels and offices. The massive airport complex spans 8.5 square miles and is the vision of Al Khalifa bin Hamad Sheikh and Baker Al, with the aim to transform Qatar’s aviation sector. Since its official opening on April 30th, 2014, International Hamad Airport has become the country’s international hub, taking over from Doha Airport. The development of International Hamad Airport has also been driven primarily by the executive chief group of International Hamad Airport.
In 2015, François Hollande, the President of France, received the Legion of Honour from Al Baker, an industry leader in aviation services.
In 2017, he was also appointed as the Chairman of the Board of Governors of the International Air Transport Association, which was named ‘Executive Aviation’. Although he never shies away from criticizing mistakes or delays by manufacturers, he has a substantial number of orders for new planes. He also introduced double beds in the first-ever business class in 2017. He is known as a forthright and uncompromising businessman, and is also ambitious.
Mr. Al Bajer is a non-executive Director of Heathrow Airport Holdings (HAH) in the UK, and he is also a member of the Executive Committee of Air Arab Carriers, which operates at Heathrow Airport. Additionally, he has various private business interests.
In addition to being the CEO of Qatar Airways, he also serves in the capacity of CEO for a number of other companies, including Services Media Internal and Free Duty Qatar, Distribution Qatar Company, Catering Aircraft Qatar, and Company Services Aviation Qatar, as well as its subsidiaries and offshoots.
Anecdote
“We will be seated in a moment,” Al Baker, still in pajamas, glanced over and said, “Don’t worry, I am part of the crew and it is secure, you can remain here.” Upon hearing this, the reporter, who was on the outskirts of the group, was approached by a flight attendant who instructed him to find his seat. A cluster of individuals encircled him when the seatbelt sign illuminated. An aviation reporter who traveled alongside him on Qatar Airways’ inaugural commercial A350 flight from Doha to Frankfurt observed with some amusement that Al Baker swiftly changed into pajamas upon boarding and happily engaged with passengers in the galley. Although Al Baker may appear distant and unapproachable, his fervor for his profession and his determination to establish Qatar Airways as the world’s finest are unquestionable.