Qatar Airways will continue to expand even as it prepares to announce "large" annual losses due to a blockade by neighbours, the airline's chief executive said Monday (April 23rd).
Akbar al-Baker said the Gulf carrier remained a "very robust company" despite being heavily affected by a regional diplomatic dispute that has seen it lose access to routes across Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain and Egypt, AFP reported.
But he said the national carrier is not in danger of a collapse and "will keep on expanding".
Barring Qatar Airways from using its neighbours' airspace has increased costs for the company during the 10 months since the crisis erupted.
Speaking at a press conference, al-Baker also confirmed plans to expand Doha's Hamad International Airport in time for the 2022 World Cup would go ahead.
