Qatar Airways to add 138 aircraft in five years as traffic recovers

Qatar Airways' Chief Executive Officer, Hamad Ali Al Khater, announced that the airline is embarking on a period of rapid expansion, with plans to add 138 new aircraft over the next five years. This fleet expansion aims to bolster the carrier's global network and cargo operations, as the airline transitions into a new growth phase focused on modernisation.

During a media open day at Hamad International Airport, Al Khater unveiled the airline's medium-term strategic roadmap, detailing key investments in Airbus A350-1000s, Boeing 777-9s, and the forthcoming Qsuite.

In the short term, Qatar Airways will receive 50 Airbus A321LR aircraft by the end of the year to serve secondary markets with challenging economics. The airline will also equip approximately 150 planes with Starlink high-speed internet to join the world's largest connected fleet. Despite regional and global airspace restrictions, Qatar Airways has successfully recovered 90 to 95 percent of its passenger traffic compared to the previous year, boasting high load factors.

The airline's destination network has expanded from 60 to 160 destinations since mid-June, and daily passenger volumes at Hamad International Airport have surpassed 140,000 as international carriers resumed flights to Doha.

Al Khater acknowledged operational challenges, including airspace congestion delays ranging from 10 minutes to an hour. However, he emphasized the airline's resilience and crisis-response capabilities, noting that the carrier has navigated three major operational shocks over the past two years, including regional airspace closures, a volcanic eruption impacting 700 passengers, and a British air navigation IT outage that grounded hundreds of flights.

Furthermore, Qatar Airways is undertaking organizational restructurings to enhance passenger service quality through operational improvements and the establishment of a Customer Experience Department focused on hospitality and catering. The airline remains committed to professional development, particularly in empowering Qatari talent and leadership to maintain its global standing.