Qatar Airways says it may leave the Oneworld alliance if its fellow-members don't treat it better, a move that could shake up itineraries for thousands of passengers who use Qatar flights as part of their trips.
Qatar, whose hub in Doha has become a major transfer point not only for its own passengers but for those with connections on American, British, Qantas and other partners, is upset because some of those partners have worked to terminate Open Skies agreements that allow Qatar to operate in North America and Europe, after inviting it into the alliance.
If Qatar leaves, Oneworld would have only one Mideast member, Royal Jordanian, a far smaller airline, and loyalty members of the various airlines would lose the ability to earn and burn points on Qatar's flights.
The dispute among the airlines is rooted in a belief that Qatar is costing the others customers, and has an unfair advantage because of its status as a state-owned company that is able to use government funds for investment. Qatar points out that many other airlines were government-owned in their beginnings, and that it eventually will go public.
Qatar CEO Akbar Al Baker has told reporters he is losing patience and could leave 'soon.' Asked whether that might mean leaving this year, he replied "I don't know. We will wait and see what happens."
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