Akbar al-Baker’s career and the rise of the Emirate of Qatar have parallels – for better or for worse. 30 years ago only the Sheraton Hotel towered over the beach promenade of Doha on the Persian Gulf, in 1997 Qatar Airways was operating just four aircraft when al-Baker, born in 1962, became the boss there. Today Doha has a glittering skyline, including bold architectural throws. And Qatar Airways, as one of the world’s leading airlines, is driving the industry giants from the USA and Europe in front of it – with unfair means, as its competitors complain with reference to subsidies.
The German Football Association (DFB) would like to win the company as a sponsor before the soccer World Cup in the coming year, which will be awarded to Qatar by the smell of corruption – this inevitably brings the question of human rights into focus. That the DFB is committed to this, he had the national players demonstrate in March at the game against Iceland: The words “Human Rights” could be read on the jerseys at the time.
The company seems to be rough with employees
Qatar has long been accused of having built the infrastructure for the World Cup as well as the Doha airport, for which al-Baker is responsible, with the blood of hundreds of thousands of workers from Asia and Arab countries who had to work in sheds in the grueling heat. Thousands are said to have died, with corresponding analyzes suffering from the fact that the connection cannot be proven beyond doubt.
Qatar now has the most progressive labor legislation in the Gulf States, as recognized by the International Trade Union Confederation. There is a minimum wage and the kafala system, which made workers quasi serfs of employers, has been officially abolished: workers should be able to change employers and leave the country. Human rights organizations are more critical and complain about restrictions on freedom of expression or the discrimination against women and members of the LGBTQ community. The question is whether Qatar Airways can, should, must be held liable for this.
The company has been criticized in the past for the way it treats its employees. If flight attendants became pregnant, they had to expect the loss of their jobs. Al-Baker had some points that were worthy of criticism changed, others not – especially not his leadership style. Industry experts say that he runs the company as authoritarian as a kingdom. Those who make mistakes are quickly thrown out.
Lufthansa has rejected Akbar al-Baker’s offers for boarding
Akbar al-Baker likes to point out that he wants to keep business and politics separate. But Qatar Airways is owned by the state. The rise of Qatar, like the airline’s growth, is financed by the income from gas exports. Like the World Cup, the airline is part of a visibility strategy. After the blockade against Qatar led by Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, Emir Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, one of whose confidants is al-Baker, can see confirmation that only international attention can guarantee the survival of the emirate – and perhaps the emirate US Air Force Base al-Udeid.
Akbar al-Baker, about whose private life little is known, initially flew in food from Iran with his machines, even dairy cows went on board. He saw this as a patriotic mission – and was not embarrassed to sharply criticize Riyadh and Abu Dhabi. It is notorious among aircraft manufacturers for its rough tone. He sometimes describes new jets as “junk” and refuses acceptance because the color of the carpet does not match. Lufthansa brusquely rejected his offers for entry. Taking you out of business at the DFB now would undoubtedly give him satisfaction.