QATAR. Qatar Airways has posted a +3.8% rise in sales of duty free goods and beverages across its operations, including sales for Qatar Duty Free, to QAR2.10 billion (US$575.89 million) for the year ended March 2019.
In its financial year 2018-19 results, the airline company reported overall revenue of QAR48.02 billion (US$12.97 billion) for the 12 period, a +14% year-on-year rise. Passenger revenue was +14.3% at QAR34.13 billion (US$9.38 billion) and the number of available seat kilometres was 231,094 (+13.5%).
Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive HE Akbar Al Baker said: “2018-19 was a year of achievement in the face of adversity for Qatar Airways. Despite facing challenges that are unparalleled in the airline industry, I am very proud that we have grown our fleet, expanded our network and seen overall revenue increase. Passenger numbers are up, capacity, as measured by available seat kilometres, has risen and our cargo business is now the largest in the world.” 
Despite the positive revenue figures, Qatar Airways posted a net loss of QAR2.33 billion (US$640.11 million) for the 12-month period. Al Baker added: “While it is disappointing that [the] Group has registered a net loss – attributable to the loss of mature routes, higher fuel costs and foreign exchange fluctuations – the underlying fundamentals of our business remain extremely robust.”
In the airline’s latest fiscal year, it launched 11 new destinations, added 25 aircraft to its fleet and continued to come to terms with the ongoing blockade from the airspace of Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain and Egypt.
Looking ahead to the airline’s current fiscal year, Al Baker said: “Our success is due to an unwavering belief in our strategy to give our passengers the very best, backed by the perseverance and hard work of our staff. I look forward to 2019-2020 with optimism and confidence that our growth will continue and we will serve even more countries around the world.”
As reported, Qatar Airways is co-hosting The Trinity Forum 2019 with Hamad International Airport and Qatar Duty Free, taking place at Doha’s St. Regis Hotel 30-31 October. The Forum is organised by The Moodie Davitt Report, ACI World and ACI Asia-Pacific.
Al Baker is one of several speakers that will address the world’s most influential airport commercial revenues conference. The latest speaker and social events announcement is here.
Qatar Airways is offering a 15% discount on fares to and from Doha for delegates (https://www.qatarairways.com/en-qa/offers/cug/TTF19.html – Promotional Code: DOHTTF19).
Platinum partners for the event include Diageo Global Travel; Dufry; L’Oréal Travel Retail; Mars Wrigley International Travel Retail; Pernod Ricard Global Travel Retail; and Mondelēz International, which is also Innovation Partner and champion of the Trinity Challenge.
Silver partners include Rituals and Victorinox and App Partners Smart Alliance.
Additional partners include Cabin Zero, CAPI, Godiva, Happy Socks, Lacoste, Leonidas, Loacker, Long Haul Spa, Mercedes-Benz Parfums, Nestlé International Travel Retail, Tous and Travel Food Services.
For sponsorship opportunities please contact Irene Revilla at Irene@MoodieDavittReport.com or Sarah Genest at Sarah@MoodieDavittReport.com
