Qatar Airways posts record US$2.15...

Middle East airline sees strongest-ever financial performance in 31-year history

Qatar Airways Group has posted record profits of US$2.15 billion for the financial year, up 28%.

That makes the airline the latest from the Middle East to deliver record results as the region’s aviation sector flies high, with Emirates recently becoming the world’s most profitable airline and Air Arabia announcing record profits.

According to Qatar Airways Group CEO Engr. Badr Mohammed Al-Meer, the credit for this performance across the business, including passenger and cargo services, catering and Qatar Duty Free, is down to its people and focus on “our Qatar Airways 2.0 strategy”.

He also highlighted strategic industry partnerships which has enabled the group to “remain agile in the face of ever-shifting world events, whether political, economic or environmental”. Those included taking a 25% minority stake in Virgin Australia and a 25% acquisition of South African regional airline, Airlink.

Just last week, Qatar Airways placed the largest aircraft order in its history with Boeing during President Donald Trump’s visit to the Middle East. That includes up to 210 Boeing widebody jets.

Recognising soaring demand on the passenger side of the business, Qatar Airways recently added 50 weekly flights to 11 destinations.

That followed a record breaking 2024 for travel and tourism in Qatar, with Doha's Hamad International Airport serving 52.7 million passengers, up 15% from the previous year, and the country welcoming more than 5 million visitors, up 25%.

Qatar Airways is the latest carrier in the region to announce record-breaking results and soaring profits.

In February, Etihad Airways, the national airline of the UAE, posted record profits for 2024 of US$476 million. Passenger numbers soared sharply, rising 32% to 18.5 million and total revenue rose 25% to US$6.9 billion.

Last week, Dubai-based Emirates Group, comprising Emirates and Dnata, became the world’s most profitable airline, reporting record profits of US$5.8 billion, up 20% on the previous year.

And Air Arabia, the Middle East's largest low-cost carrier, saw profits soar by 34% in the first quarter of 2025 compared to the same period last year, reaching US$91 million. That followed a record year for the UAE-based airline in 2024 which saw profits of US$435 million as passenger numbers soared 12% to reach 18.8 million.

For more information, visit www.qatarairways.com

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