Former British Airways (BA) and Qatar Airways executive Ian Heywood, who was arrested by Qatari authorities earlier this year, has been blocked from leaving Qatar and taking up his new position with BMI.
Qatar Airways global sales and distribution VP Heywood is due to return to the UK to become BMI commercial director, replacing Adrian Parkes who left the UK Star Alliance carrier in 2007. But a UK foreign office spokesman says Heywood is under a travel ban and must therefore remain in Qatar.
The spokesman says: “We can confirm that a British national of the name, Ian Heywood, was detained at Doha Airport on 1 May. He was [held in custody until he was] bailed on Wednesday 28 May. We are in regular contact with his next of kin and are providing consular assistance.
“He hasn’t been charged yet, but I can’t go into details. Currently he is on bail and still in Qatar. There is an ongoing investigation and there is a travel ban on him at the moment.”
The spokesman declines to comment on the reasons for Heywood’s arrest. Some local media reports have suggested that it is industrial espionage-related.
A BMI spokesman also declined to comment on Heywood’s situation, but he adds: “We expect him to be joining us soon.”
Heywood previously held several sales positions with BA, including head of consumer and agency sales, head of corporate sales and general manager for field sales.
Source: flightglobal.com's sister premium news site Air Transport Intelligence news
Source: Flight International
