Thierry Antinori, The Smart Man Quietly Running Qatar Airways (As I See It)

I have to say I'm not particularly sad to hear that it's a tough time for Hamas Airways. When you (or your government stakeholder) plant the seed, you get the harvest

Another junky place with an "airline" .

Tell that to the Israelis. They bankrolled and facilitated the rise of religious fundamentalists in Gaza to confront the PLO after the first intifada. Israel is reaping what it sowed. Just like the US and al Queda

You should go to see him when you're in Doha. He's very amenable, I've met him multiple times (Doha, Berlin, London) and he seems to like people like us.

Interesting, but the new Qatar Air CEO Al-Khater was already reshaping the Qatar-Airbus relationship within weeks of taking the role, which Bloomberg interviewed on in February. Not exactly invisible, was covered extensively here in France. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-02-18/qatar-airways-new-ceo-prioritizes-better-relations-with-airbus

Rough time for QR (and the other Gulf carriers). Qatar reliably operated during the pandemic when few others did, so, fortunately, they've had years and years of profitability leading up to this. However, the conflict in Iran has shattered the veil of safety and security, which made a stopover in Doha not only reasonable but delightful. I've made countless trips with QR since 2020, but 2026 has wrecked it for me. Gonna take a while for me to choose QR, EK, or anyone else over there, especially when all it takes is 1 missile or drone to get stuck over there indefinitely.

It's very unlikely that he would return to EK to replace Tim Clark. There is a history there that you are not privy to and would provide a clearer picture if you knew the details.

I have worked at multiple airlines (more than one under him) and I will say the success does not rest solely on his shoulders, there are smart people by his side that make things much better for him.

Thank you Mr BERG or is it GOLD?

Qatar Airways and its management have successfully dismantled what makes a great airline:

- Customer Service is at the lowest level ever. Complaints are not acknowledged or responded. Even as Platinum member, expect that it take multiple attempts to get anything from QR

- Irregularities: expect nothing from QR as they don’t care. Platimum member gets downgraded to Economy due to misconnect and QR would not even pay back some ticket difference

- Onboard product: Once a decent product it has literally gone to the dogs - just that their food is better

I know Antinori from his LH days - and the above has very much his fingerprints all over. He is neither goof nor successful. Oversized ego and no substance

Yes, expecting Palestinians to act rationally and in their own interests was; and still is; a grievous error, but it seems to me the Israelis are doing a good job of correcting their mistake by enacting a solution that can finally solve the problem for once and for all.

Is that you, Josh C.?

Ridden them extensively over the last few years. Very rarely a problem, and the few times there's been any issue at all, they've done the utmost to address it for me.

Anecdotes vary, but who knows, maybe you've given them a reason to not like you.

Thousands of years of history, but one thing has remained constant: the Parable of the Golem

The loud ones may get the attention but that does not mean they manage their airline poorly either. Although Ryan Air gets a bad reputation the airline does serve a purpose and is a profitable low cost carrier with a wealthy CEO for example.

Lots of Israelis here now! Never in World History a mere.00000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000% of world population has caused so many problems. No need to wonder why they keep getting kicked out from every corner of the world.

SMK77, one obviously has no idea from whence comes your information, however, the buzz on the right side of the pond is that Qatar, will again be voted the World’s Number One Airline 2026.

To attain that sort of status and consistently, they must be doing something right, yes?