Qatar Airways retains title of world’s largest airline

New independent data from OAG has reaffirmed Qatar Airways as the largest airline in the world in terms of Available Seat Kilometers (ASK), offering more global connectivity to its passengers than any other airline. Qatar Airways’ expansive network of more than 1,000 weekly flights to over 130 destinations, provided over 2.6 billion ASKs during March 2021, offering the most flights to international destinations. The global COVID-19 pandemic has created unprecedented challenges for the aviation industry and, despite this, Qatar Airways never ceased operations and worked diligently to take people home safely and reliably throughout the crisis.

The airline has also added seven new destinations in the past 12 months including San Francisco and Seattle in the US, Abuja, Accra and Luanda in Africa, and Brisbane and Cebu in Asia Pacific. Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, H E Akbar Al Baker, said: “At Qatar Airways, being there for our passengers, trade partners and corporate customers has been our major focus since the start of the pandemic. We have dedicated ourselves to being the airline passengers can rely on, operating with the highest hygiene and bio-safety standards. “We are thankful and proud of the response from our passengers that has enabled us to continue providing the most flexible travel options as the world’s largest airline for international air traffic. “This independent data from OAG once again highlights Qatar Airways’ mission to be an airline that passengers and trade partners can rely on now and in the future as we offer unrivalled connectivity with a state-of-the-art and sustainable fleet.” Qatar Airways has become the first global airline in the world to achieve the prestigious 5-Star COVID-19 Airline Safety Rating by international air transport rating organisation, Skytrax. This follows the Hamad International Airport (HIA)’s recent success as the first and only airport in the Middle East and Asia to be awarded a Skytrax 5-Star COVID-19 Airport Safety Rating. These recognitions provide assurance to passengers that airline health and safety standards are subject to the highest possible standards of independent scrutiny