IATA Data Shows Qatar Airways Carried Most Passengers and Cargo in June

Figures from the International Air Transport Association (IATA) show for the third month in a row, during the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic, that Qatar Airways’ operations accounted for 8.1 percent of international passenger traffic and 6.8 percent of air cargo traffic.

According to the stats, the airline’s 1.25 billion revenue passenger kilometres (RPK) in June was over 50 percent more than its closest competitor.

“June data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA) reaffirms Qatar Airways position as the leading international carrier during this crisis, carrying more passengers and cargo than any other airline to support the recovery of international travel and vital global supply chains,” the airline said on Thursday.

According to a company announcement, Qatar Airways has become the largest international carrier flying over 85 million kilometres to repatriate over 2 million passengers on over 20,000 flights during the Covid-19 crisis. The airline has also worked closely with governments, and companies around the world to operate over 360 charters and extra sector flights.

“While many airlines suspended operations, we continued to maintain a robust schedule and network. Our network throughout this crisis has never fallen below 30 destinations across five continents or less than 150 weekly frequencies. Since then we have rebuilt our network to be the largest in the region with more than 500 weekly flights to over 80 destinations,” Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, Akbar Al Baker, said, while welcoming the independent statistics from IATA.

Due to Covid-19’s impact on travel demand, the airline took the decision to ground its fleet of Airbus A380s, considering that it is not commercially or environmentally justifiable to operate such a large aircraft in the current market. The airline’s fleet of 49 Airbus A350 and 30 Boeing 787 service its long-haul routes to the Americas, Europe and Asia-Pacific regions.

Qatar Airways’ onboard safety measures for passengers and cabin crew include the provision of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for cabin crew and a complimentary protective kit and disposable face shields for passengers.

Moreover, to ensure travellers can plan their travel with peace of mind, the airline has also extended its booking policies to offer even more choice to its passengers.