Qatar Airways Group has appointed Abdulla Ali as Chief Operating Officer and Calum Laming as Chief Customer Officer. The airline announced the appointments as it continues rebuilding its network and preparing for its next phase of growth.
The company said both executives will report directly to Group Chief Executive Officer Hamad Al Khater. Ali and Laming will assume their new roles on 1 November 2026.
Qatar Airways Group also reported that it has restored its network to 85 per cent of pre-crisis levels. The airline launched its summer 2026 schedule this week. The schedule includes more than 140 daily departures from Doha to over 160 destinations worldwide.
New leadership roles support growth plans
The airline created the two executive positions to strengthen its operational and customer focus.
According to Qatar Airways Group, the appointments support three priorities. These include delivering a high-quality passenger experience, expanding the passenger and cargo network, and investing in employee development.
The company said it will continue to focus on talent development, succession planning and future skills. As a result, the new roles add greater leadership capacity across key business functions.
Abdulla Ali takes on Chief Operating Officer role
Abdulla Ali, a Qatari national, currently serves as Senior Vice President of Ground Services. Qatar Airways Group promoted him to Chief Operating Officer.
Ali will oversee the Group’s operational functions. The company said his role will focus on accountability, performance and safety standards.
Qatar Airways Group said Ali brings experience across airline, airport and network operations. The airline also highlighted his record of leading teams and delivering operational results.
The appointment places operational oversight under a single executive leader. The company said this structure will support performance and operational consistency.
Calum Laming appointed Chief Customer Officer
Calum Laming will become Chief Customer Officer. In this role, he will oversee the airline’s brand and customer touchpoints.
Qatar Airways Group said the position will help create a more consistent customer experience. The company also said the role will strengthen coordination across the passenger journey.
Laming most recently served as Chief Customer Officer at British Airways. He held that position from 2022 until earlier this year. He has also worked in senior customer-focused roles at Etihad Airways and Air New Zealand.
The appointment adds dedicated executive oversight for customer experience. The airline identified customer excellence as a key business priority.
Qatar Airways highlights talent and leadership development
Group Chief Executive Officer Hamad Al Khater said the appointments support the airline’s future direction and leadership agenda.
“These appointments are about what comes next. With Abdulla and Calum joining our leadership team, we will move faster, sharpen our focus on excellence, and put the customer at the heart of every decision we make. They are also about our people, expanding our ability to develop talent and support the growth of our incredible teams.”
Qatar Airways Group said the appointments align with its focus on operational excellence, customer experience and people development. Both executives will begin their new positions on 1 November 2026.
