Qatar Airways: No plans for budget carrier

(AP) The head of fast-growing Qatar Airways says there are no immediate plans to launch a budget airline to compete with Dubai's expanding low-cost carrier.

Instead, CEO Akbar al-Baker says Qatar Airways will concentrate on enlarging its global network as part of rivalries with Gulf carriers Emirates and Abu Dhabi-based Etihad Airways.

Al-Baker is quoted Saturday by the Dubai-based Khaleej Times as saying there are no current plans to create a budget airline to challenge the growing market share of government-backed flydubai, which began service in 2009 and now serves more than 50 destinations.

But al-Baker said Qatar Airways keeps options open on all future plans.

Al-Baker made the comments earlier this week in Seattle after he took delivery of the airline's first Boeing 787 Dreamliner.