Airlines Qatar and EU conclude air transport agreement

Negotiations have been concluded between Qatar and the European Commissioner for Mobility and Transport, Mrs Violeta Bulc. It has been agreed on a comprehensive air transport agreement. This agreement was announced during the CAPA Qatar Airways, an aeropolitical and regulatory summit in Doha.

With this landmark agreement, all air carriers for the 28 European Union member states a Qatar are now able to have unlimited access to their territories respectively. That means, that Qatar Airways, the flag carrier of the state, has now unlimited access to the European market.

The agreement is a first between the EU and a gulf country.

Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, His Excellency Mr Akbar Al Baker, said: “Through these negotiations, both sides have demonstrated that positive engagement can build trust among nations, so they can embrace the benefits of competition. Our hope is that the success of these negotiations will encourage other trading blocs and significant aviation markets to join in achieving a liberalised global aviation regime for future generations.

“We approach the principle of fair competition very simply: fair access to markets, competing for market share based on products and services of what the customer wants and is willing to purchase,” Al Baker added.

European Commission Director General Mobility and Transport, Mr Henrik Hololei, commented: “We are very pleased to have concluded our negotiations with the State of Qatar here in Doha today. Thanks to the strong commitment of all parties, we have managed to reconcile our differences and found common ground through honest engagement and open dialogue.”

Qatar Airways hopes to create new jobs and better flight services to Europe. In Germany for example, the carrier is likely to offer daily flights to Hamburg or Düsseldorf, according to aviation media.

As flag-carrier, Qatar Airways operates a modern fleet of more than 230 aircraft via its hub at Hamad International Airport. The carrier flies to more than 160 worldwide destinations and is a member of the Oneworld alliance.