Qatar targets 100 aircraft fleet for prospective Indian carrier

Qatar Airways chief Akbar Al Baker has reaffirmed the carrier's plan to launch a carrier in India, but has been coy on the details. Al Baker spoke briefly about the fleet plans for the proposed carrier. "I will not tell you what types of aeroplanes we will deploy in India, but as you may remember we said that we will launch an airline in India which will have a fleet of at least 100 aircraft," he says without giving further details. Al Baker first raised the prospect of launching a carrier in India last March, which would be jointly owned byQatar Airways and Qatar's state investment arm. The planned venture would not require a local partner, after India changed regulations to allow complete foreign ownership of local carriers. Foreign carriers, however, are still limited to a maximum 49% stake.<br/>