Qatar Airways CEO doubts coronavirus existence

Current pandemic is a hot topic everywhere in the world, causing an unprecedented crisis in aviation industry. However, there seems to be one person who doubts there’s any need for slashing a number of flights or safety measures.

During a recent interview Akbar Al-Baker, CEO of Qatar Airways, doubted the very existence of coronavirus: 

“During the incubation period, they say that this virus can be transmitted. There is no scientific evidence for that. It is just, you know, a fear factor. You know, you don’t block aviation, you know, just because there is something in the air but it’s really not a scientific fact. I don’t know about it.” 

We can hear these words in an interview for Bloomberg which was aired February 5th, but just recently resurfaced in social media. He continues:

“For them to do what they did with the Chinese cabin crew, whoever goes into China can not now go anywhere else in these countries for the next 14 days. They don’t realize the operational impact this will would create on an airline. Suppose there was a pilot for some technical glitch was rostered to go on a flight to Australia, United States, Singapore, you know, the aircraft will get stuck with all the passengers. And what evidence you have that on every single aeroplane you don’t have three or four people with contagious disease sitting next to you?”

Here’s the interview for you to watch:

WATCH: Qatar Airways CEO Akbar Al-Baker doubts the existence of #coronavirus that has already reached 126 countries and territories, infecting more than 132,000 people worldwide. Video posted by MBC reporter @Awad_alfayadh.https://t.co/zh0OBl2FWZ pic.twitter.com/gcm3eFGMOO

— Arab News (@arabnews) March 13, 2020