Former BA executive takes up newly-created role at Qatar Airways

Former British Airways chief customer officer Calum Laming is taking up an identical position at Qatar Airways.

He is one of two senior executives joining the airline as it rebuilds its network following the Middle East conflict.

The Doha-based carrier has restored its network to 85% of pre-crisis levels and created two new executive roles “to sharpen its operations and deepen its focus on customers”.

The start of the airline’s summer 2026 schedule this week sees more than 140 daily departures from Doha to over 160 destinations worldwide.

This delivers a target set earlier this year, at the height of the regional disruption that grounded much of its network, to rebuild to 85% by mid-June.

The two new appointments support three priorities that will shape the company’s next phase of growth.

The focus is on delivering a world-class passenger experience at every touchpoint, expanding the passenger and cargo network with a modern fleet and the next generation of Qsuite, and investing in its people, according to the airline.

The chief customer officer role brings the brand and customer touchpoints under one co-ordinated focus, “ensuring consistency, excellence and warmth throughout the customer journey”.

Laming held the role at BA from 2022 until earlier this year and previously held senior passenger-focused positions at airlines including Etihad Airways and Air New Zealand.

At the same time, ground services senior vice president Abdulla Ali is promoted to the new position of chief operating officer bringing the group’s operational functions under a single leader.

Both start their new roles on November 1.

Group chief executive Hamad Al-Khater said: "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.”