BBC News - HardTalk - Akbar al Baker

[A300Man]

Qatar's CEO goes under the microscope of Stephen Sackur on BBC World's HardTalk, today 26th November 2009, at 1730hrs Doha time / 1830hrs UAE.

[muppet in the sky]

MUST WATCH TV for the QR staff I assume :}

[wastafarian]

just in case you havent herd or seen al baker yet, here is a pictur of him http://www.flightglobal.com/blogs/airline-business/monty.jpg

[Captain Oryx]

In Qatar we were afforded a "preview" at 1230.

AAB handled himself well, IMO. He didn't allow himself to get baited into saying anything controversial, stayed on message, "We have a business plan, it works for us, we will continue as long as it works."

I'll let the "flamers" comment on the negatives they perceive.:ok:

[wastafarian]

fans of qatar airways might be happy to knwo there seems to be a new book writen about the airline-

http://www.danblore.com/resources/_wsb_432x643_GR+front+$282$29.jpg

[fractional]

It'll be quite interesting how "he'll" react to some of Stephen's peppered questions. I hope he does "grill" him nicely on points where AAB has been most criticised :mad: rather than how well QTR is doing internationally :*.

UPDATE!
Within the first 5 to 10 minutes, AAB said roughly this:
- Airline is in the black
- Airline is very efficient and cost efficient
- People are wrong about the QTR profits
- QTR pays a higher fuel cost in DOH than in MNL
- Banks would not finance QTR if the Airline was not viable
- IATA is wrong about the Mid East traffic forecast
- Boeing and QTR are now friends
I didn't go further...

[garry_paul18]

Thats a pretty good image of him! Cracked me up!!! specially the nose!!! hahaha!!!:D

[loc22550]

The small little moustache is missing....

[josmison]

does anybody have a link ? for the video

[CDRW]

AAB's eyebows seem to do their own thing. !

[OrryFace]

Did he have to go 'under the microscope' due to diminshed stature?

[Plutos]

Any link for the video ?

Nothing on youtube, so far.:rolleyes:

[Baron buzz]

BBC - Homepage (http://www.bbc.co.uk)

Search for the I player, and then Hard Talk.

Fairly easy to find - I thought he interviewed very well actually.

[ddd]

BBC News - Hardtalk - Qatar Airways chief's threat to Boeing (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/hardtalk/8382901.stm)

[kotakota]

Always been a Boeing man ,but they have not eactly covered themselves with glory in recent times.
The Omanair CEO also expressed his frustration with them during a recent interview ,complaining of little information coming through about the 787 delivery 'schedule ' .Rumour has it that Boeing had a couple of execs in Muscat in days trying to pour some oil . Sounds like a couple of 777s offered to cover for a while , but no idea if this is acceptable or even being considered at all . One crazy rumour had Jet Airways hulls ( even one with a marble floor in the front !! ) coming over !!
Methinks Boeing are very lucky that the A350 is not available for a while yet ?

[sanook]

350. That's years away and most likely delayed as well

[loc22550]

Just a threat i guess....
Cancelling all the Boeing orders will probably make think even worse for Qr..
Indeed,does QR has any alternative plan to cope with their expansion plan in such a case...???

[TOGA LOCK]

I am glad that you took my idea seriously (http://www.pprune.org/5296876-post48.html), and finally brought one of the main actors in this comedy in front of a camera. Also, very glad that you have managed to leave that representative fragment in your website, showing the eyebrows moving like they had a life of their own, all the twitching and the piercing eyes. I told you it was a good idea, didn't I? So, are you finally convinced that all that you had previously read in this forum is true? I know you are…

Now, you got your Pulitzer Award Interview. Can I get my 10 million dollars, please?

Cheers, and Blue Side Up!!!