Home > General > Qatar Airways got €1.67 bln government lifeline after losses widened

Qatar Airways got €1.67 bln government lifeline after losses widened

Written by Business World, on 28th Sep 2020. Posted in General

article headline

Qatar Airways received a 7.3 billion riyal (€1.67 billion) lifeline from the Qatar government after losing 7 billion riyal in the year to March 31, the state-owned group disclosed on Sunday.

Several countries, including the United States, have stepped in to help airlines hammered by the coronavirus crisis that brought global travel to a near-halt earlier this year.

The lifeline was provided to Qatar Airways after annual losses exceeded 50% of share capital and was later converted into new shares, said the airline's financial statement.

Qatar Airways, which has slashed jobs and delayed new aircraft deliveries due to the pandemic, flagged in March that it would seek state support but had not until now disclosed the funding.

The airline said the 2019-20 financial year had been one of the most difficult in its nearly three-decade history, with losses widening from a restated 4.5 billion riyal loss in the previous year.

The airline saw revenue increase 6.5% to 51.1 million riyal. Passengers carried rose 10% to 32.4 million.

The true impact of the crisis on Qatar Airways is unclear as global lockdowns continued beyond its financial year-end.

Qatar Airways Group includes the airline, management of Qatar's international airport and other aviation assets.

Since mid-2017, the airline has been banned from the airspace of Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates due to a regional political dispute that forces it to fly longer routes.

It is also banned from Egyptian and Bahraini airspace.

Air Italy, in which Qatar Airways held a minority stake, went into liquidation in February. (Reuters)

More articles from General

image Description

Choosing the Right Time and Attendance System for Your Business in Ireland

Read more
image Description

The Benefits of Choosing a Payroll Bureau in Ireland with Online Payroll Software

Read more
image Description

Tips for Building a Successful Travel Business in Ireland

Read more
image Description

How to Improve Your Business Writing: Simple Tips That Work

Read more
image Description

Leveraging Digital Platform Integration is the Key to Driving Competition Among Businesses

Read more