Qatar Airways expects 15 to 25 per cent growth for the financial year ending in March 2017, says the airline’s chief executive Akbar al-Baker.

”We will achieve this growth by looking for new markets where demand is not sufficiently met [by our competitors],” Al-Baker said, without identifying the potential new destinations, which he says will be added into its airline’s current network.

The outspoken chief executive also said his company plans to do an initial public offering (IPO) over the next decade in line with its plan to expand its operations.

“We will rely on finding new markets [for future growth],” he added

Al-Baker said they will maintain this strategy going forward despite rising competition. “There is big enough market for everyone,” he said in response to the potential revival and expansion of neighbouring airlines like Kuwait Airways and Gulf Air, in addition to UAE’s Emirates Airline and Etihad Airways. He attributed future growth to the rapidly expanding middle class, most of who will start travelling for the first time.

Al-Baker also said his airline wil not consider consolidation in future strategy. “Unlike the legacy airlines that have utilised consolidation to decrease capacity and increase airfares, effectively working against the good of the travelling public, our strategy is to find new markets to cater to,” he said.

Qatar Airways, along with Etihad Airways and Emirates Airline, are locked in an open skies dispute with the American Big Three - American, Delta and United.

Al-Baker said that he anticipates a decision in favour of the Gulf Big Three soon. He expressed confidence that the US government, which is currently reviewing the open skies dispute, is starting to realise that the case was a total waste of time and money because the US Big Threes’ lawyers are trying ”to prove a losing case.”