Qatar Airways CEO will step down after nearly 3 decades leading carrier

NEW YORK (AP) — Qatar Airways Group chief executive Akbar Al Baker is stepping down after 27 years at the helm of the company. Al Baker’s retirement will go into effect Nov. 5, Qatar Airways says. He will be succeeded by Badr Mohammed Al-Meer — who currently serves as the chief operating officer of Hamad International Airport in Doha, the hub of Qatar’s national carrier. During his tenure at Qatar Airways, Al Baker became known for being one of the most outspoken, and at times controversial, leaders in the airline industry — with analysts pointing to his hard-changing, confrontational approach that carried into negotiations with manufacturers and others.