Qatar Airways appoints Abdulla Ali as its first Chief Operating Officer as network recovery reaches 85%

Qatar Airways Group has announced two senior leadership appointments as the airline accelerates growth plans following its recovery from recent regional disruptions and restores 85% of its network operations.

The carrier has appointed Abdulla Ali as its first Chief Operating Officer (COO), a newly created position aimed at strengthening operational oversight across the group. Ali, who currently serves as Senior Vice President of Ground Services, will assume the role on November 1.

At the same time, Qatar Airways has named Calum Laming as Chief Customer Officer (CCO), tasking him with aligning the airline’s brand, customer experience and service touchpoints under a unified strategy. Both executives will report directly to Group Chief Executive Officer Hamad Al-Khater.

The appointments come as the airline launched its summer 2026 schedule, featuring more than 140 daily departures to over 160 destinations worldwide. The expansion marks the achievement of the airline's target to restore 85% of its network following disruptions caused by the Iran war crisis.

“These appointments are about what comes next,” Al-Khater said in a statement.

“With Abdulla and Calum joining our leadership team, we will move faster, sharpen our focus on excellence, and put the customer at the heart of every decision we make. They are also about our people—expanding our ability to develop talent and support the growth of our incredible teams.”

According to the airline, the leadership changes reflect three strategic priorities for its next phase of growth: enhancing the passenger experience, expanding both passenger and cargo networks through a modern fleet and next-generation Qsuite business class product, and strengthening talent development and succession planning.

Ali's promotion underscores Qatar Airways' focus on developing internal leadership talent, while Laming's appointment brings additional expertise in customer experience as competition intensifies among global carriers seeking to attract premium travelers.

The airline said the new structure is designed to support continued expansion while maintaining operational efficiency and service standards across its growing international network.