Qatar Airways has become the airline of choice for discerning travellers from around the world. The national airline of Qatar is determined to move ahead with its plan to add more destinations and strengthen its fleet size despite challenges faced by the global aviation industry due to COVID-19 pandemic.
The award-winning airline carried 32.4 million passengers in fiscal year 2020, an increase of 9.8 percent over last financial year, according to its Annual Report for 2019-20. The report highlighted the airline group’s resilience in the face of the continued illegal airspace blockade against Qatar and the most challenging period in global aviation’s history.
Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, H E Akbar Al Baker said: “Despite the momentous challenges our Group has faced in 2019-20, Qatar Airways Group continues to remain resilient, reporting strong underlying fundamentals. During the fiscal year 2020, the Group’s revenue increased to QR51.1bn, seat capacity increased by 3.2 percent, freight tonnes handled increased by 2.8 percent and passenger traffic at Hamad International Airport increased by 8.6 percent. Qatar Airways invested QR16.8bn in fleet and other assets during the year and had a cash balance of QR7.3bn at year-end.”
The latest IATA data revealed that Qatar Airways has become the largest international carrier between April to July 2020 by fulfilling its mission of taking people home. This enabled the airline to accumulate unmatched experience in carrying passengers safely and reliably and uniquely positioned the airline to effectively rebuild its network. The carrier has stringently implemented the most advanced safety and hygiene measures on board its aircraft and in Hamad International Airport.
Throughout the pandemic, Qatar Airways has rebuilt its network to more than 650 weekly flights to over 90 destinations across six continents offering passengers more flexible travel options via the Best Airport in the Middle East to more destinations than any other airline.
Qatar Airways continued the expansion of its global route network in 2019-20, increasing its presence around the globe and providing passengers with an even greater choice of exciting destinations to experience. The airline added eight new destinations to its global route map in 2019-20 extending its presence in Europe while also launching new destinations in Africa and Asia.
“I have every confidence that the Qatar Airways Group will emerge stronger from this difficult period and continue to innovate and set the standards that our competitors can only hope to emulate. We will continue to be the airline millions of passengers can trust and rely on in good times and bad, and proudly fly the flag of the State of Qatar across the globe,” H E Akbar Al Baker added.
