Qatar Boeing’s growing presence in Qatar is more than just good business By Eric Fetters-Walp fastest-growing airlines by specializing Qatar is relatively small in both geography and population, but it is growing into a nation with influence, both regionally on the Arabian Peninsula and around the world. It is the world’s largest exporter of liquefied natural gas. The Al Jazeera media network, which now broadcasts to a worldwide audience in multiple languages, is based there. In 2022, Qatar will become the first host country ever in the Middle East for soccer’s prestigious FIFA World Cup. The national flag-carrier airline, in just more than 20 years, has become one of the world’s 28 Frontiers June 2014 in globe-spanning international routes. The nation also is investing in diversifying its economy for the future. Qatar is a growing market for Boeing’s military and commercial products, underscoring the importance of a relationship that dates back to the 1970s. “Qatar performs well above what you would expect of a nation with 2 million people,” said Jeff Johnson, president of Boeing Middle East. “Here’s an example of a nation that’s developed its natural resources—both its oil and gas reserves and its location. It happens to be an eight-hour flight away from two-thirds of the world’s population.” Qatar’s emerging role as a global airline hub will be boosted by the recent opening of Hamad International Airport in the capital city of Doha. The state-of-the-art $15 billion airport is designed to handle at least 50 million passengers annually upon its completion. In late 2010, Boeing opened its first office in Qatar to more directly support Boeing Defense, Space & Security and Commercial Airplanes customers there. The
Frontiers June 2014 Issue
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