Qatar Airways names new CEO

Qatar Airways Group has appointed Hamad Ali Al-Khater as Group CEO, effective 7 December 2025, marking a key leadership transition for the airline recognised as the ’world’s best’.

 

He succeeds Engr Badr Mohammed Al-Meer, who took over the position two years ago from long-serving CEO Akbar Al Baker, subsequently guiding the airline through a phase of strategic restructuring and growth.

 

Al-Khater joins Qatar Airways from Hamad International Airport (HIA), the carrier’s global hub, where he served as Chief Operating Officer. At HIA, he oversaw operational reliability, safety protocols, and strategic expansion initiatives that elevated the airport’s reputation for excellence. His leadership helped HIA maintain its status as the Best Airport in the Middle East and achieve recognition as the World’s Best Airport by Skytrax in 2024.

 

Before joining the aviation sector, Al-Khater held senior positions at QatarEnergy, leading complex deal execution, business development and strategic initiatives. His cross-sector expertise is expected to strengthen synergies between Qatar Airways and its home hub, supporting the Group’s focus on reliability, network optimisation and sustainable expansion.

 

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Qatar Airways continues to demonstrate robust post-pandemic recovery, recording 15% passenger growth and record US$2.15 billion profit in the last fiscal year. As competition intensifies from regional rivals including Emirates and Etihad, the airline is prioritising innovation, sustainability and digital transformation.

 

It has also announced a US$6 billion plan to expand its route network and enhance global partnerships by 2030.

 

Commenting on the appointment, Qatar Airways Group Board of Directors Chairman, His Excellency Mr Saad Sherida Al-Kaabi, said the new leadership underscores the Group’s ambition to build on its “strong foundations and expansive global network,” while reaffirming its commitment to “world-class experiences, reliability and innovation.”

 

Qatar Airways has been named World’s Best Airline at the Skytrax World Airline Awards nine times, most recently in 2025. A consistent industry leader in sustainability, it was the first airline in the Middle East to achieve the highest level of IATA’s Environmental Assessment programme and the first global airline certified under the Buckingham Palace Declaration to combat illegal wildlife trafficking.

 

For more information, visit www.qatarairways.com