Qatar Airways CEO Wants to Avoid Airfare Hikes
Qatar Airways CEO Hamad Al-Khater said at the Skift Global Forum on Sept 23, 2026, that the airline is avoiding fare hikes amid the Iran war.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
- Qatar Airways is absorbing higher fuel costs rather than raising fares.
- Intense competition in the Middle East makes price hikes a last resort.
- The CEO is open to adding premium economy seats for 138 incoming aircraft.
Qatar Airways CEO Hamad Al-Khater has outlined a pricing strategy that stands in stark contrast to Western counterparts, stating that the carrier is not yet ready to pass on surging fuel costs to its customers due to the fierce competitive landscape in the Middle East.
Speaking at the Skift Global Forum in New York City on Wednesday, September 23, 2026, Al-Khater remarked that the airline is essentially kicking the can down the road and must adjust to operating with persistently higher fuel prices. He emphasized that raising ticket prices remains an option of last resort driven entirely by market competition.
Jet fuel prices have climbed sharply in recent weeks as hostilities intensified in the Iran war. Like other regional carriers, Qatar Airways has faced severe pressure from airspace closures across the Middle East and a noticeable downturn in travel demand.
This decision to shield passengers from rising operational costs highlights the intense rivalry among Gulf carriers to protect market share during regional instability. It puts Qatar Airways on a completely different path from U.S. carriers, which are actively transferring fuel expenses back to travelers.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
This approach puts Qatar on the opposite side of major U.S. airlines. United Airlines CFO Michael Leskinen stated that his carrier expects to recover 100 percent of its fuel cost increases through higher fares by the end of the year, though implementation is lagged since 35 percent of fourth-quarter tickets have already been booked.
"We don't want to pass it to our customers just yet. That's going to be an option of last resort, just because of the competitive landscape."
Hamad Al-Khater, Qatar Airways CEO
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
Al-Khater, who assumed the CEO role in December 2025, also signaled a major shift regarding cabin configurations by opening the door to premium economy for the 138 aircraft scheduled for delivery over the next five years. This reverses the strict stance held by his predecessor, Akbar Al Baker, and aligns Qatar with rivals like Emirates and Turkish Airlines, the latter of which plans to launch its own premium economy in 2028.
Source: Skift
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