Qatar Airways
- IATA/ICAO Code
- QR/QTR
- Airline Type
- Full Service Carrier
- Hub(s)
- Doha Hamad International Airport
- Year Founded
- 1993
- Alliance
- oneworld
- CEO
- Akbar Al Baker
- Country
- Qatar
Qatar Airways would like to launch commercial services to Mexico from Doha Hamad International Airport (DOH), but Aeromexico is currently lobbying against the entrance of the Middle Eastern airline, Qatar’s CEO, Akbar Al Baker, said during the International Air Transport Association (IATA) Annual General Meeting. Let’s investigate further.
Blocking Qatar’s entrance
The entrance of Qatar Airways to the Mexican market has been a rumor for the last few months. In April, Mexican Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard said Qatar Airways would want to fly to the recently inaugurated Felipe Ángeles International Airport (NLU). A few days later, Qatar Airways responded, saying it had discussions with the Mexican government, but there was nothing concrete to announce.
The airline has also expressed its interest in launching flights to Mexico to add capacity just in time for the FIFA World Cup, which will take place between November and December 2022. Mexico will play the World Cup and has one of the highest attendance rates among fans.
During the weekend, Akbar Al Baker, Qatar’s CEO, publicly spoke about the airline’s interest in flying to Mexico.
As reported by local media outlet Expansión, he said,
“Yes, we want to fly to Mexico, but we are at the mercy of Aeromexico, which is lobbying against us to the government, so they don’t give us the rights to fly.
Simple Flying reached Aeromexico for comment. The airline declined to comment.
Qatar Airways wants to fly to Mexico but Aeromexico its blocking its entrance. Photo: Vincenzo Pace | Simple Flying.
What route could Qatar Airways launch?
If Qatar Airways were to fly between Qatar and Mexico, it would most likely be the Doha-Mexico…