DOHA: Qatar Airways Group’s operating profit for the fiscal year 2016 rose almost three times greater than the previous fiscal. The operating profit stood at QR3bn in 2016 (QR1.1bn in 2015), resulting in an 8.6 percent operating profit margin, an improvement of nearly six percentage points from the prior year, from QR35.6bn in revenues.
The company reported a net profit of QR1.6bn, resulting in a net profit margin of 4.5 percent. Net profit for fiscal 2015 was 1.1 percent, at QR374m. Qatar Airways growth rate (CAGR) in ASK term since the relaunch in 1997 to March 31, 2016 is 28 percent.
Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive Akbar Al Baker said: “Qatar Airways continues to lead the industry in all aspects of the business, from our strong financial performance to our award-winning on board product. Our fiscal 2016 year was the best yet for Qatar Airways Group, and our results reflect the discipline and dedication of the more than 39,369 men and women who proudly represent our airline and its associated brands.”
For the year ending March 31, 2016, Qatar Airways Group reduced its expenses 1.5 percent and increased its cash and bank balance from QR5.5bn to QR12bn, despite the significant growth in operations and an adverse movement in foreign currency exchange.
Over the course of fiscal 2016, Qatar Airways added 13 new destinations and increased its overall network to more than 150 destinations on six continents.
The airline was also the global launch customer of the Airbus A350XWB, the most technologically advanced aircraft in the world, and was the first commercial airline to fly it to the United States. Three continents are now served with the A350: North America, Europe and Asia.
The airline celebrated delivery of its 25th Boeing Dreamliner, and now operates a fleet of 29 Boeing 787s. Celebrating another milestone in the fleet, the airline celebrated the delivery of its 50th Boeing 777, the backbone of its international network.
Qatar Executive, the private jet division of the Qatar Airways Group, became the launch customer of the Gulfstream G650ER, the world’s largest and fastest aircraft of its size. Qatar Executive now has two G650ER aircraft of the total order for 30 Gulfstream family aircraft.
Qatar Airways’ home and hub, Hamad International Airport (HIA), proved more than capable of handling capacity traffic, serving a record number of travellers for the calendar year 2015, its first full year of operations, with more than 30 million people served, while simultaneously being named Middle East Best Airport for the second year in a row, and for being the first Middle Eastern airport to be named to Skytrax’s World’s Top 10 Best Airports. HIA, managed by Qatar Airways Group, introduced a new mobile app to help travellers navigate through the shopping, dining and other experiential opportunities that await them at the airport, and continue to advance the use of technology to create a “smart airport” that puts more control into the hands of the traveller.
Qatar Airways Cargo had a record-setting year, growing to third-largest cargo operator in the world as of October 2015, and continuing to expand both its fleet and product line-up.
Over the course of fiscal 2016, Qatar Airways Cargo increased its dedicated freighter destinations to 54, adding Dallas, Budapest, Prague, Ho Chi Minh City, and New York to the network. In addition, with the airline’s commercial growth, QR Cargo increased available tonnage world-wide by double digits this year and will continue to grow both organically, as the fleet is scheduled to grow to 22 aircraft by 2017, and through the airline’s growth in commercial service.
Qatar Airways launched flights to a number of high profile destinations during fiscal 2016, including daily flights to Los Angeles in the United States and Sydney in Australia, further strengthening our overall route network relevancy to travellers world-wide. Its connectivity to the United Kingdom also increased to 73 weekly flights with the addition of Birmingham, the fourth UK destination.
The Peninsula
