Qatar Airways’ new Group Chief Executive will replace Akbar Al Baker in November, after 27 years at the airline.
SUMMARY
- Badr Mohammed Al-Meer, the new Group Chief Executive of Qatar Airways, comes from a strong background in aviation with experience as the Chief Operating Officer at Hamad International Airport.
- Al-Meer has played a crucial role in the success and transformation of Hamad International Airport, which has been recognized as one of the world’s best airports.
- As the new leader of Qatar Airways, Al-Meer is expected to continue the airline’s achievements and drive operational excellence while delivering a top-notch customer experience.
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Badr Mohammed Al-Meer has been named the new Group Chief Executive of Qatar Airways. Earlier today, the airline announced that Akbar Al Baker would be stepping down from the role of Group Chief Executive after 27 years at the oneworld carrier. He will hand over the reins to his successor on November 5th.
Who is Badr Mohammed Al-Meer?
Badr Mohammed Al-Meer was educated in Lebanon and the US and graduated in engineering from the American University of Beirut and the University of Colorado. He is, however, no stranger to the world of aviation. He is currently the Chief Operating Officer at Hamad International Airport (DOH), a position he has held since 2014.
Photo: Qatar Airways
Over the past nine years, he has been instrumental in transforming the airport into a global hub, offering passengers one of the world’s leading airport experiences. The airport was named by Skytrax as the ‘World’s Best Airport’ in 2021 and 2022. At this year’s awards, Hamad International Airport was ranked the second-best airport in the world but did pick up the accolade of ‘Best Airport in the Middle East’ for the ninth consecutive year.
Photo: HasanZaidi | Shutterstock
Al-Meer is also responsible for successfully steering the airport’s operations through the pandemic, employing new technologies to ensure passengers have an efficient and hygienic journey through the facility. Following a multiphase expansion plan, the airport celebrated the opening of The Orchard in 2022 – a 60,000-square-foot indoor tropical garden, complete with its own waterfall, reminiscent of the one found at Singapore Changi Airport (SIN).
A long-lasting legacy
It could be said that Al-Meer will have some big shoes to fill in his new role as Group Chief Executive. His predecessor, Al Baker, has been instrumental in transforming Qatar Airways into the globally recognized brand that it is today, and his achievements speak for themselves. Under Al Baker’s leadership, Qatar Airways has been named ‘World’s Best Airline’ by Skytrax a record-breaking seven times.
Photo: Phuong D. Nguyen | Shutterstock
Other recent achievements include a successful recovery from the pandemic, a robust operation throughout the FIFA World Cup in 2022, and continued fleet development and network expansion.
Under Al-Meer’s leadership, Qatar Airways will soon resume services to several destinations not served since the pandemic, including Osaka (KIX), Penang (PEN), and Venice (VCE). He will also oversee the delivery of a significant number of aircraft, ranging from the Boeing 737 MAX 10 to the 777-9 and Airbus A350-1000.
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Thanks to his role as Chief Operations Officer at Hamad International Airport, Al-Meer comes to Qatar Airways with a wealth of experience and a detailed knowledge of how the airline works. This, together with a clear drive for operational excellence and an industry-leading customer experience, makes him the ideal candidate to take the reins of the airline from November 5th.
