No plans to form budget carrier: Qatar Airways

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

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

Mr al-Baker was quoted by the Dubai-based Khaleej Times as saying there were 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.

However, Mr al-Baker said Qatar Airways was keeping "options open" on all future plans.