akbar travel ceo

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• KV Abdul Nazar of Akbar Group becomes the first Mumbai Malayali to get a Dubai Golden visa for 10 years

Nazar has been leading the travel business of the group in India and overseas for over 40 years with Akbar Travels.

• ETTravelWorld
• Updated On Sep 13, 2021 at 04:32 PM IST

• Published On Sep 13, 2021 at 04:32 PM IST

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Journey of Triumph

Unveiling the Entrepreneurial Odyssey of Mr. K. V. Abdul Nazar, Chairman & Managing Director of the Akbar Group

Way back in 1978, a spirited young man from Ponnani, Kerala accompanied a few friends to the city of hope then called Bombay (Mumbai). It was during a time when there were ships that would sail out of the Bombay harbour to the city of Dubai. He identified a crisis and was determined to find a solution. The young man was K.V Abdul Nazar. The crisis was the limited airline/travel services in then Bombay to Dubai. The solution was a 350-square-foot office in Janjikar Street, Bombay (now Mumbai) that was named Akbar Travels. Forty-six years hence, the same Akbar Travels stands as a giant in the travel and tourism industry, with branches in different parts of the world, including the US, Canada, the UK, Italy, the GCC region, Malaysia and lately ventured into Tanzania and Kenya. Akbar Group expands, exploring markets in Bangladesh, Philippines, and Australia ambitiously. Despite the humble beginning, Mr. KV Abdul Nazar today leads the Akbar Group empire, with an annual turnover of more than 2.4 billion USD which employees over 5000 people globally.

To give you a little glimpse of his incredible journey, we’ll need to rewind to the 1970s.

Abdul Nazar came from a typical lower middle class family hailing from the Malabar region of Kerala. During this period, India was being reckoned as an emerging contributor of skilled/non-skilled workforce globally. But the 1970s saw a rapid rise in the number of Indians migrating to the Gulf after the famous “oil boom.”Bombay (now Mumbai) was the major link connecting the country to the Gulf. However, the airlines were limited, their seats were limited, and so were the resources that could ensure prompt and safe travel services. The entrepreneur within a span of a year saw an opportunity to serve a wide community of travellers and took it upon himself to cater to their requirements by starting his own travel agency. Even at a tender age with no external support or a mentor, Abdul Nazar was wise enough to understand that traveling isn’t only about getting from Point A to Point B. It is an experience in itself, which must be hassle-free. His entrepreneurial vision had two main objectives. One, no client should have to worry about a thing except packing their bags and getting themselves to the airport/station on time. Two, a journey with Akbar Travels should leave a lasting impression on the clients for only the right reasons. Forty-six years hence, the foresight and diligence of the son of Karuppam Veetiyil Master has established a leading and trusted global travel company.

A major reason for Mr. Nazar’s entrepreneurial success is that his ambitions weren’t fuelled by profits but by his compassion and to see that how could his venture add value to the travel landscape of India. It was his compassion towards the plight of travellers that made him want to create a company that would bring easy, accessible travel solutions to anyone who so desires. And this now resonates with his daughters Ms. Benazir Nazar the CEO of Akbar Holidays and Ms Ashiya Nazar the head of Akbar Travels Middle East.

 It was his concern that made him go beyond the world of business and realize that his hometown, Ponnani, desperately needed developments. As a quaint small town on the Malabar coast of Kerala, Ponnani was facing its realistic challenges of development, modernization and growth. With his vision and leadership, the Ponnani Benzy Polyclinic was founded, offering world-class medical services the community deserves. Along with this he opened petrol pumps, food and oil companies. Hilal Public School fostering holistic education, the agro venture producing versatile coconut derivatives and sustainable organic farming practices, ensuring quality and environmental stewardship and many such ventures which not only added to the development of Ponnani but also created employment for people of Kerala.

After a span of 46 years, this Indian travel behemoth, the Akbar Group encompasses a diverse range of companies, each a leader in its domain. From the renowned and award winning online company akbartravels.com, the holiday giants curating the most affordable holidays - Akbar Holidays, Akbar Study Abroad catering to travel and education needs of millions of students to Akbar Corporate managing the travel needs of the various corporate powerhouses in India and abroad, Travocure –the company acing in medical tourism, Benzy Infotech innovating cutting edge solutions in travel technology, Akbar Forex, Benzy Marine spearheading travel needs for global shipping companies, Benco Oil, Benzy Productions creating enriching Malayalam movies, Akbar Cabs, Akbar Academy of Airline Studies, Akbar Express Cargo Air and Road, and an array of other ventures, the group has consistently demonstrated innovation and reliability, earning a formidable reputation in the global business landscape.

This endeavour is only one of the countless such endeavours to contribute toward his community and his country—a motto embodied by the entire Akbar Group family, and a legacy that will continue to live on for years to come.

The tourism sector has been recovering, but the number of foreign tourist arrivals (FTAs) in India is yet to touch pre-Covid level. (Note: FTA was 1.09 crore in 2019; 15.27 lakh in 2021; 61.91 lakh in 2022; and 31.33 lakh till April 2023). How can the sector record faster growth?

It is true that the tourism industry still has not bounced back to its pre-COVID-19 progress. However, several factors could expedite both recovery and growth. We could begin by launching global marketing campaigns that highlight India’s unique culture, history, diversity, and heritage. Digital marketing platforms are brimming with potential in this regard, which should be harnessed to the fullest possible extent. In the course of this, we could reach out to other global travel agencies to develop lucrative partnerships where our travellers would receive the best end of the deal. This could be through better travel packages, discounts, and other encouraging incentives. We also see immense potential for developing public-private partnerships that facilitate leveraging resources, sharing expertise, and implementing strategies to boost the growth of tourism.

In line with global trends, we also consider the promotion of sustainable tourism as a relatively underexplored space that could draw more travellers to India. With increasing awareness about the climate and environmental issues, focusing on eco-friendly tourism and creating environmentally conscious tourist packages/tourism options may prove effective. However, we also simultaneously require further enhancement of our tourism-related infrastructure like improved roadways, railways, and airports. Furthermore, efforts to increase financial incentives and support extended to tourism-associated businesses in the form of grants, subsidies, and job creation could also catapult the entire tourism sector to unimaginable heights. This could go hand-in-hand with cultivating a well-trained and hospitable workforce, which would ensure revisits by travellers and draw the attention of potential travellers.

The Incredible India campaign launched in 2002 successfully established India as a prominent tourist destination. The Athithidevo Bhava campaign, launched in 2008, also helped India become a more tourist-friendly place. How have these campaigns influenced the evolution of tourism industry in India?

Both the “Incredible India”(2002) and the “Atithi Devo Bhava”campaigns (2008) significantly shaped the perception of India as a tourist-friendly travel destination. On the level of brand-building, these brilliantly showcased India’s hospitality and warmth as being inherent in our culture. Beginning from highlighting historical sites, vibrant festivals, diverse food culture, and myriad and distinct topography, both campaigns captured and presented the essence of India. On the level of influencing the evolution of tourism industry, the consequence of successfully drawing an increasing number of tourists meant accelerated tourism infrastructure development. More tourists also meant positive economic outcomes across various sectors, including hospitality, transportation, and local businesses. Not to forget the contribution toward India’s GDP and employment generation.

As the tourism industry witnessed growth, it began embracing technology to reach global audiences (primarily through social media) and building resilient international partnerships. This also translated into keener observations, consistently keeping up with trends in tourism, understanding and engaging with potential travellers, and adopting new ideas like adventure tourism, wellness tourism, sustainable tourism, and so on.

India has recorded steady economic and infrastructure growth in the past few years. The growth forecast for the next few years is also positive. How is the industry planning leverage these factors?

The tourism industry aims to align itself with the positive economic trajectory through targeted measures.

Infrastructural development is a priority. To leverage advancements in this regard, we urge for increased investment in transportation, accommodation, and amenities at key tourist destinations as well as improved land and air connectivity. We have also made commendable strides in digitalization. The tourism industry can leverage this through the development of interactive websites, engaging social media campaigns, and the incorporation of innovative ideas like virtual reality to showcase the richness of India.

The economic developments would facilitate better and more strategic marketing initiatives focused on destination diversification and niche tourism development. The industry intends to promote India's cultural diversity, historical landmarks, and emerging urban destinations through targeted campaigns. Collaborations with global players, including airlines and hospitality brands, are already being explored to expand the reach and accessibility of Indian tourism.

What is the vision for Akbar Travels in the ever-changing travel landscape?

We seek to build a world where travel isn't just about visiting new places but also respecting one another and embracing differences. Through our wide range of travel services, we hope to facilitate important cultural exchanges that leave a positive impact on both the travellers and their travel destinations.

A key aspect of this future is sustainability. We are increasingly committed to promoting eco-friendly travel and tourism practices, avoiding any adverse effects on the environment. This is especially where the previously highlighted “responsible tourism”comes in.

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Company Timeline

Successful people do what unsuccessful people are not willing to do. Don't wish it were easier; wish you were better.

Akbar Group Established

Rise of a New Travel Leader

Akbar Group was started as a B2C Travel agency with a vision to provide quality services to clients who will come back for the amazing experience. It later became famous as a 24 hour non stop travel shop and continues its wonderful journey with 100+ offices pan India..

Taking Wings Abroad

First International Office

This was the year when our first international office was set up and it all started in the Emirates of Sharjah. Akbar Travels is the largest religious pilgrimage operator to Mecca & Medina and the largest tour operator for HAJJ & UMRAH.

Akbar Goes Online

Online Portal Started

Started travel portal  www.akbartravelsonline.com.  We were early to embrace technology and go online to cater to growing needs and flexibilities of a digital world.

Akbar Holidays Pvt Ltd Established

A Feather in the Hat

Akbar Holidays sets foot in the market driven by the passion for travel industry and the aim to deliver best customer experience and grandest deals. With MS. Benazir Nazar as CEO and its customer centric approach, the company has remained a favourite choice for happy travellers since its inception.

Trans Altlantic

USA Offices

AKBAR GROUP took a trans-Atlantic leap into the USA by establishing 2 offices in prominent locations in New York & Houston.

Wider Reach

Broader Markets

US office of Akbar gets ARC accreditation  and opened office in Southall, UK. We also stepped foot into wider markets with Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia and Rome Offices. In the same year akbartravelsonline travel portal was changed to akbartravels.com. This name is now synonym for online air tickets on domestic & international routes and also holiday package-related requirements.

SOTO Booking

Added Convenience to Customers

Akbar’s new venture, Getfares.com Agency  that is a SOTO booking online platform launched. Booking a SOTO ticket is an awesome option in a lot of situations. Booking a ticket in advance for future travel plans sitting in your home country was made possible. This makes travel easy and convenient and avoids the last-minute rush and tension for the customer.

Akbar Offshore Pvt Ltd is Born

Travel Technology Expertise

Akbar Offshore pvt Ltd. enters the market as a B2B Travel Technology Provider and Akbar travel becomes our amiable customer. We boast on being a travel technology company built and driven by tech enthusiasts. This Eccentric team with exceptional expertise and extremely energetic aura caters to every travel need and excels in travel technology solutions.

Qatar Airways CEO Akbar Al Baker Resigns After 27-Year Run

Ajay Awtaney, Skift

October 23rd, 2023 at 10:52 AM EDT

Qatar Airways' Akbar Al Baker has been one of the most outspoken CEOs in the industry.

Ajay Awtaney

In a surprise announcement Monday, Qatar Airways Group CEO Akbar Al Baker said that he is resigning from the airline, effective November 5. Al-Baker was appointed the CEO of Qatar Airways when it was founded in 1997 and has been at the forefront of building a world-class and innovative airline. Qatar Airways confirmed the resignation in a press release . 

Al Baker was also CEO of group companies, such as Qatar Executive and Hamad International Airport. Under his stewardship, the airline, which started with just five aircraft in 1996, has grown to 258 aircraft. 

In his note to employees, Al Baker wrote: “After 27 years of service, I am writing to you to announce that I will step down from the Qatar Airways Group. In 1996, with a fleet of just five aircraft, unwavering dedication, and a loyal and passionate team, together we embarked on a remarkable journey to aviation excellence. From that very first day, our journey has been nothing short of extraordinary.”

Badr Mohammed al Meer, who is currently the Chief Operating Officer of Hamad International Airport at Doha, will take over as the new Group CEO of the airline.

Al Baker’s Vision 

With a population of half a million people and an area of approximately 4,500 square miles, Qatar did not have a home market large enough to have an airline of scale. However, it did have a favorable geographical location and visionary leadership that wanted to lessen the country’s dependence on oil and natural gas. 

Qatar Airways started operating as a regional carrier in 1994. It was relaunched in 1997 under the mandate of Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, who wanted the airline to be transformed into a leading international airline. 

The airline operates one of the youngest fleets globally and is one of the fastest-growing airlines worldwide. The airline, under Al Baker, was at the forefront of adopting new aircraft – it was the global launch customer for both variants of the Airbus A350 aircraft. 

Qatar Airways also launched the QSuite under Al Baker, a business-class product with privacy doors. Among other unique features, QSuites offered the ability to seat a group of up to four people across each other in a private environment on a commercial jet. Al-Baker claimed the product was so good that no one would need to fly first class anymore. The product was marketed as “First in Business”. 

Recognizing the need for corporate jets, Qatar Airways has a 19-aircraft fleet of executive jets and is the largest owner-operator of the Gulfstream G650ER globally.

Qatar Airways’ Strong Network

Passenger experience was not the only priority for Qatar Airways under Al Baker. The airline grew its circle of influence by buying stakes in other airlines. Qatar Airways owns a significant stake in China Southern Airlines, International Airlines Group (owner of British Airways), Cathay Pacific, RwandAir and LATAM Airlines Group. 

Al Baker depended on these relationships to maintain the capacity of Qatar Airways during the supply chain crisis, calling upon Cathay Pacific and LATAM when the airline needed extra capacity.

Al Baker did what he had to do to raise the profile of Qatar Airways and generate business for the airline. With Etihad having big ambitions back in the day and Emirates already building a large super-connector operation out of Dubai, Qatar Airways went ahead and joined Oneworld in 2013, becoming the only one of the big ME3 airlines to join an airline alliance to date.

Driving Force Behind Hamad International Airport

Al Baker was also the driving force behind the launch of Hamad International Airport, which has been the hub of Qatar Airways since 2014. The airline used to operate from the Doha International Airport. 

During the first half of 2023, the airport experienced a 33.5% increase in passenger traffic, welcoming over 20 million passengers to the facility. The airport is currently working on expanding the capacity of the airport to 70 million passengers annually.

Al Baker was known for speaking his mind. In 2018, after being elected as the chairman of the International Air Transport Association, he was asked about the lack of female leadership at his airline and replied: “Of course it has to be led by a man because it is a very challenging position.” He later apologized for his statement and said that Qatar Airways was committed to gender equality. 

Under his stewardship, Qatar Airways sued Airbus in the High Court of London for billions of dollars in compensation over chipped paint on the A350 aircraft, which exposed the copper mesh. Qatar claimed it was a safety issue, proceeding to ground its A350 fleet. Both sides later settled the case without trial, but not before Airbus canceled some outstanding orders for the airline.

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Tags: qatar , qatar airways

Photo credit: Akbar Al Baker is stepping down as CEO of Qatar Airways. World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) / Flickr

5 Reasons To Join Qatar Airways' Frequent Flyer Program In 2024

• Qatar Airways' loyalty program is called 'Privilege Club.'
• Due to the airline's unique strategy, the loyalty program offers benefits while part of the oneworld alliance.
• Privilege Club also uses Avios as its currency, unlocking further earning and redemption opportunities for customers.

Qatar Airways offers a compelling frequent flier program called the ‘Privilege Club.’ Similarly to other loyalty programs throughout the globe, members can earn loyalty points, which can then be used to redeem flights or other bonuses while flying with Qatar Airways. However, there are some unique benefits that are provided by Qatar Airways and Privilege Club.

Connecting East and West

Serving over 170 destinations globally.

Busiest routes:

• Doha Hamad International Airport (DOH) London Heathrow Airport (LHR)
• Doha Hamad International Airport (DOH) Riyadh King Khalid International Airport (RUH)
• Doha Hamad International Airport (DOH) Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK)

While loyalty program benefits are plentiful, one would not be swayed to sign up to Qatar Airways Privilege Club if they were not planning on flying with the Doha Hamad International Airport (DOH)-based carrier. Similarly to the other two big airlines in the Middle East, Qatar Airways has developed its route network to connect passengers via its main – and only – hub at DOH.

Some of the most popular routes in terms of weekly flights out of DOH in May 2024 include London Heathrow Airport (LHR), Riyadh King Khalid International Airport (RUH), Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK), Dubai International Airport (DXB), and others, according to data by the aviation analytics company Cirium .

In total, Qatar Airways serves over 170 destinations, which includes many points in the Western and Eastern hemispheres. In May, the airline will have 1,811 weekly flights out of its DOH hub, resulting in 502,370 seats and 2.3 billion available seat kilometers (ASK), meaning that there is plenty of capacity on offer wherever a traveler might be inclined to go. As a result, there are a lot of opportunities to earn Avios as well as spend the currency on potential upgrades to get to a destination while saving cash.

The New Qatar Airways CEO Is Planning To Bring Back First Class Cabins

Access to one of the best premium products globally, five-star airline rated by skytrax.

Skytrax awards in 2023:

• Worlds Best Business Class
• Worlds Best Business Class Seat
• Worlds Best Business Class Lounge
• Worlds Best Business Class Lounge Dining
• Best Airline in the Middle East

Another similarity between the airlines in the Gulf is that all have heavily invested in their onboard product, which includes the cabin, service, and seats, especially the more premium cabins. As such, carriers like Qatar Airways have earned plenty of rewards for their cabins throughout history. While the objectivity of the awards could be questioned, there is little doubt that joining Privilege Club will grant easier access to getting upgrades to business class on a Qatar Airways flight.

According to the airline, passengers can use Avios to upgrade their tickets and secure a place in the business class cabin. Describing the seat, Qatar Airways said that its Qsuites have a fully lie-flat bed, dine-on-demand service, and many more incredible perks for passengers to enjoy while flying.

How To Upgrade To Qatar Airways Business Class On Your Next Flight

Easy transfer of avios to british airways executive club, part of the combine my avios program.

Exchange rate:

• 1 Avios for 1 Avios

In March 2022, Qatar Airways adopted Avios as the currency for Privilege Club, converting its older loyalty currency on a 1:1 basis to Avios. At the time, Akbar Al Baker, the now-former chief executive officer (CEO) of Qatar Airways, remarked that the transition marked a new era for the loyalty program, which allows its members to participate in the most compelling loyalty network in the industry.

As the Worlds Best Airline, Qatar Airways continues to redefine loyalty through the adoption of exciting digital innovations to create unique world-class experiences for our members.

Nevertheless, British Airways Executive Club says that through the unique 2-way ‘Combine my Avios,’ it is easy to move Avios where customers need them, even if it is just moving a single point of the currency. The move is very simple once members connect their British Airways Executive Club and Qatar Airways Privilege Club accounts.

How To Earn Avios With Qatar Airways Privilege Club

Benefits within the oneworld alliance, qatar airways has been a member of oneworld since 2013.

• Over 900 destinations
• 600 business class lounges

While the other big airlines in the Gulf are not members of an alliance, Qatar Airways has been part of oneworld since 2013, celebrating over ten years of its membership as a fully-fledged member. Being part of an alliance brings many benefits to Privilege Club members, including granting top members access to more than 600 lounges globally.

Other benefits include earning Avios on all oneworld flights, with Privilege Club status being recognized as oneworld Ruby, Sapphire, or Emerald status, with the only exception being Privilege Club Burgundy. The lowest tier of Qatar Airways’ loyalty program, apart from the ability to earn Avios and Qpoints on oneworld flights and the redemption of Avios on all of the alliance’s flights, has no other benefits.

Qatar Airways Celebrates 10 Years Of oneworld Membership

Earning avios with other airlines, avios earnings on over 40 airlines.

Non-oneworld airline highlights:

• Virgin Australia
• LATAM Airlines

In addition to the oneworld airlines, Qatar Airways Privilege Club offers opportunities to earn Avios on other carriers that are not part of the alliance. This includes airlines such as JetBlue, LATAM Airlines, Virgin Australia, RwandAir, and Bangkok Airways.

Not only do these partnerships expand the global reach of Qatar Airways, but they also facilitate Privilege Club members to earn Avios while traveling through an even larger network of destinations, which includes North America, Latin America, and Australia.

JetBlue Adds To Its Qatar Airways Codeshare Agreement