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COLOMBO, Monday (AFP) - Qatar Airways Monday expressed hopes of growth despite fears of war in Iraq and said the airline had done well even after damage caused to international aviation in the wake of the September 11, 2001 attacks.

The airline's chief executive, Akbar al-Baker, said the company planned to increase flights to Indian destinations and had already added two more flights to Sri Lanka this month, ensuring a daily flight to Colombo.

"If you are in the Middle East you don't feel the tension... the area of conflict is very far away from my country. We are going to concentrate on how to develop the services we offer," al-Baker told reporters here.

Al-Baker, who met with Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe Monday, said the airline's decision to remain in Sri Lanka despite a rebel attack on the international airport in July 2001 had paid dividends.

He said Qatar had operated flights to Colombo even after the attack against the island's airport saw international insurers sharply raise premiums for flights operating to Colombo, listed as a war zone.

With the government and rebels entering a bilateral truce last February, insurance companies have removed war-risk surcharges on international shipping and aviation operating services to the island.

"When there is a little turbulence, we don't panic," al-Baker said, defending the decision to continue services to Sri Lanka, a lucrative labour market for Qatar.

He said the airline posted 11 percent growth in September 2001 despite the attacks in the United States that saw the general international aviation industry go into a tailspin.

Qatar was to launch flights to the Indian city of Kochin from March, al-Baker said.

The airline planned to increase its present 18-aircraft fleet to 30 in the next two years, he said. 

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