Al Baker: Qatar Airways to Receive 11 New Planes in 2018

Doha, April 23 (QNA) - Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive Akbar Al Baker announced that the airline will add 11 new planes to its fleet this year as it prepares to launch 16 new destinations in 2018 and 2019 after adding 11 new destinations in 2017. Speaking during a press conference on the sidelines of the 31st edition of IATA Ground Handling Services Conference, Al Baker said that Qatar Airways Company, which was established in 2000, achieved 99.5 percent of the ground handling accuracy in 2017, providing services to international airlines, private fleets as well as air cargo and other services. Al Baker pointed out that the company, which employs about 7,500 people from 54 countries, delivered 47 million pieces of goods to become one of the least delayed in delivery of luggage in this sector with a rate of 0.6 per thousand passengers. He praised the high skills of the Qatar Aviation Services staff, which enabled them to serve passengers and provide air cargo services in the best way. More than two million tons of cargo were delivered last year at an annual rate of increase 25 percent through Hamad International Airport, which served 36 million passengers and handled more than 222,000 flights in 2017. The Qatar Airways Group chief executive noted that the company, which proved successful at the level of Hamad International Airport, may look to expand in other international airports, one of which could be Malpensa Airport in Milan, Italy, but did not specify whether a final decision has been taken in this regard so far. (QNA)