Qatar Airways could launch no-frills subsidiary

Qatar Airways chief executive officer Akbar Al Baker said his airline has already flown a no-frills aircraft in "the guise of a full-service aircraft" so that it is in a position to launch a low-cost carrier at short notice.

"If we find that any low-cost carrier is taking our market share, in 90 days Qatar Airways will be able to launch a comparable product," Al Baker said yesterday in obvious reference to flydubai, which has been set up with the support of Emirates and is launching commercial flights next month to Amman and Jordan.

Although the Qatar Airways chief avoided directly naming any airlines as his rivals, UAE-based Emirates and Etihad are seen as the main rivals of the Doha-based airline.

Flydubai has been set up with the support of Emirates but will be have its operations independent of the latter.

Admitting that 90 days is a very short time in the aviation industry, Al Baker said he had "a complete structure in place" to launch a budget airline "if we are threatened or our market share is eroded by a competitor."

The airline on Tuesday said it will continue its network and fleet expansions despite the global travel being hit by the economic slowdown.