Qatar Airways may launch IPO earlier than planned

Qatar Airways' chief executive, Akbar Al Baker, said on Tuesday that the airline could launch an IPO (initial public offering) earlier than expected, reiterating his statement given to Gulf News in May 2011. "When we are continuously three years into profit, we will go for an IPO and we are very much on that track and maybe we will give you good news earlier than that," he had said, adding that it could be earlier than anticipated. Speaking at a conference in Doha at the opening of Doha's new departure terminal, Al Baker said the carrier could launch the share sale as early as this year. He said: "It could be this year, it could be next year, it could be the year after. But it will definitely be earlier than people expect." The airline chief in April said that Qatar Airways was considering a dual-listing in 2013 or 2014 in London and the local Doha exchange.