More airline failures ahead as complacency sets in: Al Baker

Qatar Airways group chief Akbar Al Baker predicts more airline failures are in the horizon, as carriers get complacent about recovery prospects. Asked how he would encourage the aerospace supply chain, which has been equally hard-hit by the coronavirus pandemic, Al Baker says governments should also render support to suppliers, especially to “highly-specialised, technologically-advanced suppliers”. This was because when travel demand returns in the post-pandemic future, “you will need them down the line again when the industry starts ramping up”, he adds. “We are not out into good days again…we will still faced a difficult period going down the line. And that happened… you can see that all the airlines were very excited in June and July. And look what’s happening now. [I] am predicting that there will be some more failures, because people will again get relaxed." Even with the prospect of a vaccination in the near future, Al Baker urges patience, at least “until everybody’s properly vaccinated”. “So people need to be prepared…[they] have to be cautious in order to help their country, their governments, so that we don’t face a severe third wave of the infection. [We] need to continue taking precautions, and the government must…stand with the supply chain in the aviation industry as I think there will be more failures in our…community.” <br/>