Qatar Air CEO threatens airline could exit oneworld ‘soon’

Qatar Airways CEO Akbar Al Baker Qatar is losing his patience with Oneworld and said his airline could leave the alliance “soon.” Asked whether an exit from the alliance could take place this year after giving Oneworld what he characterized as an “ultimatum,” Al Baker said: “I don’t know. We will wait and see what happens.” Speaking Thursday, Al Baker said he’s tired of the “bad feelings” that American Airlines has stirred, and he’s worried of the obstructionist efforts that alliance member Qantas is carrying out on behalf of Emirates in Australia. He noted with irony that American Airlines and BA were the entities that invited Qatar into the alliance in the first place. Al Baker said that Qatar Airways is pursuing its own strategy, having taken 20 percent ownership of British Airways parent IAG, and investing in Latam and Air Italy, among others. As for obstructionist effort by Qantas and American, which sought to end Qatar’s open skies agreement with the US, he said, “what is then the point in being in Oneworld?”<br/>