What’s New

Qatar Airways released its annual report for the fiscal year 2017 (April 1st 2016 to March 31st 2017) revealing a 21.7% year-on-year net profit increase. The results also show an annual revenue increase of 10.4%.
The airline has experienced a busy year of expansion and investment, as well as celebrating its 20th anniversary in the global aviation industry. Qatar Airways’ Available Seat Kilometres (ASK) increased by 21.9% in the fiscal year 2017, to 185,208 million.
During the fiscal year 2017, Qatar Airways has made significant investments and partnerships; launched 10 new destinations; announced industry-changing on-board product developments and expanded its modern fleet to 196 aircraft.
In July 2016, the airline announced an increase in its stake in International Airlines Group (IAG) from 15.24% to 20.01%, strengthening its position as a shareholder in one of world’s biggest airline groups. A further strategic investment was made by the airline in December 2016, when it acquired 10 per cent of LATAM Airline Group’s total shares.
Other key partnerships secured throughout the same period include a joint business agreement with IAG subsidiary, British Airways, with revenue sharing on the London Heathrow-Doha route, as well as new codeshare partnerships with airlines such as Finnair, Iberia, Sri Lankan, Vueling and Air Botswana.
During the fiscal year 2017, the airline continued to build its global network, adding 10 new destinations: Adelaide, Australia; Atlanta, United States; Auckland, New Zealand; Helsinki, Finland; Krabi, Thailand; Marrakech, Morocco; Pisa, Italy; Mahé, Seychelles; Windhoek, Namibia; and Yerevan, Armenia.
The airline has also announced that it will launch a record number of 24 new destinations in the next year, including cities such as Dublin, Republic of Ireland; San Francisco, United States; Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; and Santiago, Chile.
In order to support this ambitious growth strategy, the airline continues to expand its fleet, which as of 31 March 2017 boasted a total of 196 aircraft including 7 Airbus A380s, 30 Boeing 787 Dreamliners and 16 Airbus A350s. Showing its ongoing commitment to this evolution of its fleet, the airline also announced an historic agreement with Boeing in October 2016, to purchase up to 100 aircraft comprising 30 firm 787-9s and 10 firm 777-300ERs with a letter of intent to purchase up to a further 60 B737 MAX 8 aircraft.
Qatar Airways revealed its revolutionary new First in Business seat concept, Qsuite, at ITB Berlin in March 2017.
Qatar Airways’ success relies on the support of its home and hub, Hamad International Airport, which was opened in 2014 and now processes more than 38 million passengers a year.
Source: Qatar Airways