The head of Qatar Airways said that he hoped to start operating from Doha's new airport by the end of the year and blamed its delayed opening on Bechtel Corp., the principal contractor.
The airport had been due to open April 1, only to be delayed when the facility was determined to not meet Qatari civil defense building codes, stalling the issuing of its occupancy permit.
Qatar Airways Chief Executive Akbar Al Baker said during an event in Chicago that Bechtel had been "complacent" in meeting "all the regulatory requirements" mandated by the airline and Qatar's Civil Aviation Authority for the new Hamad International Airport.
"They have to be blamed … for our delay in the first place," said Mr. Al Baker of Bechtel. He declined to comment on whether the airline had sought compensation from the San Francisco-based contractor.
Bechtel didn't immediately respond to a request for comment.
Mr. Al Baker said he still expected the new airport to be fully open by the end of 2013, though he didn't give a specific date.
Dow Jones Newswires
13 April
