Doha, September 09 (QNA) - Qatar Airways Chief Executive Officer Hamad Ali Al Khater confirmed that Qatar's national carrier is entering a rapid growth phase centered on fleet modernization and expansion, with plans to take delivery of 138 new aircraft over the next five years to support its expanding global network and cargo operations.
Speaking during a media open day held Wednesday to showcase key operational facilities at Hamad International Airport, including the Integrated Operations Center, maintenance hangars, and the Customer Support and Disruption Management Center, Al Khater outlined the airline's comprehensive medium-term strategic roadmap.
As part of this expansion, Qatar Airways will integrate cutting-edge models into its 138-aircraft pipeline, including Airbus A350-1000s, Boeing 777-9s, and the next-generation Qsuite slated for next summer.
Additionally, the airline will receive 50 Airbus A321LR aircraft by the end of the year to tap into secondary markets with challenging economics, alongside equipping roughly 150 planes with Starlink high-speed internet to operate the world’s largest connected fleet.
Al Khater emphasized that the national carrier successfully navigated major regional and global airspace restrictions, achieving a robust passenger traffic recovery of 90 to 95 percent compared to last year alongside high load factors. The airline's destination network expanded from 60 to 160 since mid-June, while daily passenger volumes at Hamad International Airport surged past 140,000 as international carriers resumed flights to Doha.
Addressing operational hurdles, the CEO noted that airspace congestion delays currently range between 10 minutes and a maximum of one hour, underscoring Qatar Airways' total readiness to mitigate future risks. 
He highlighted the airline's resilience and rapid crisis-response capabilities, which successfully weathered three major operational shocks over the past two years, including regional airspace closures since late February, natural disruptions like the recent Indonesian volcanic eruption that impacted 700 passengers, and a massive British air navigation IT outage that grounded hundreds of flights.
Al Khater concluded by pointing to organizational restructurings designed to elevate passenger service quality through operational enhancements and a newly established Customer Experience Department encompassing hospitality and catering. 
He reaffirmed the airline's ongoing commitment to professional development, with a specific focus on empowering Qatari talent and leadership to maintain the carrier's global standing. (QNA)