Qatar Airways has today revealed their annual report for 2017/2018, which covers what the airline calls the most challenging year in its 20 year history.
Continue reading: How Much Money Did Qatar Airways Lose In Its “Most Challenging Year In History?”
Share your questions, experiences, and thoughts below.
I don't know how many "qmiles" people have (i had about 150.000) before Qatar devalued the program without notice(down roughly 50% in value). Is it possible that they devalued it so the loss would be less at this report...again i don't know how much that has an actual impact since people don't earn miles with them by spending on cc.
Haven’t really researched this thoroughly, but from a few data points are collected through the year, it seems Qatar prices have gone up considerably.
I usually search flights from a couple of European cities to Asia and/or Australia. Qatar used to be consistently very attractive price wise.
Not any more. Based on my experience they are now priced significantly higher.
This is not a compaint- just an observation, which could also explain why revenues hve not suffered as much as one would expect.
QMiles are most probably accounted as costs/liability.
By devaluating them 50%, Qatar managed to half their Qmiles liability by 50%
I'd be fascinated to know what they pay in landing fees and gate rental at Doha. As you surmised, the mideast airlines are expected to be more public with financial reporting so naturally any subsidy must be more cleverly hidden in the cost structure. In a sense, this reminds me of the earlier days of China's modernization when GDP figures were considered so sacrosanct that other data such as energy consumption became wildly divorced from reality.
@BobNL @Nikola Well, they were throwing them out to customers like maniacs just prior to the blockade. I remember multiple 3x , 4x, 5x QMiles offers. Not to mention the numerous folks that booked the Sake fare multiple times offer while getting Nx Qmiles at the same time. Can't be too healthy in the long run...
@Lucky - Can we expect a rise in tax prices when booking an award ticket in QR, just lyk what happened with Air Italy?
Qatar airways was for years my favorite airlines flown with them several times in eco, Biz and First class and always enjoining each single flight, but felt so betrayed by time of devaluation miles without any pre-notice and by that time never flown anymore with them even if they sure the best on air as the worst on ground and management. Loss beyond blockade reflects also the extravagancy way to manage and treat loyalty customers.
@chub - Delta. Heard they are planning to start a route to the subcontinent soon.
Its “Most Challenging Year In History?”
Very short history! QR commenced operations in 1994.
Why do you still ask “what do you guys make of xyz....”?
It’s lame and it’s soooo obvious you don’t care what about opinions differing to yours. You do it just for clicks and content, surely most know that? You never answer questions unless they are a one word answer, right?
What do you make of that comment?
I flew Qatar yesterday, ORD-DOH and then DOH-DEL, both in business class. I have flown them from the US to India many times. I was shocked how empty DOH airport was. Normally it bustling with activity during the banks of connecting flights. The flight to DEL was also only about half full in front and back. I flew Qatar several times before the blockade but this was my first time after the blockade. Couldn't help but wonder if the unusual ghost town was due to the blockade.
@ Srihari -- When redeeming Avios on Qatar? No, there shouldn't be any changes.
I only fly paid first class so the Qmiles devaluations don't affect me. Qatar fres have gone up but I'm in a position where it makes no difference for me.
How does anyone believe Al Baker? How can anyone believe this nonsense. He's a pathological liar. He has been for years. And in a country that is a dictatorship, ruled by one person, born into it, they can chop and change figures around anyway they like.
And look what they did with their Not So Privileged Frequent Flyer Program, May 27 this year. Overnight, they defrauded their most loyal customers, without notice.
They devalued the program by 100%, overnight. They upped the cost of redeeming miles by 100% overnight, without notice.
They added a charge of up to USD 50 to even book an award ticket, per sector no less. Done overnight, without notice. And this applies to even their most loyal customers, their Platinum's.
They upped the cost of their fuel surcharges, Overnight, without notice.
They reduced award availability. Overnight, without notice.
They cut back certain benefits. Like how dare we book a Business Class Award ticket and expect to use the Qatar Business Lounge in DOH. What are we thinking? No, you scum will get to use the hideous One World Lounge at DOH.
The Big 3 in America, exposed these frauds for the insanity of the Al Baker and his lies about profitability for years, when all along he was losing money hand over foot.
So like I said, how would we be expected to believe these lies.
Just as the author stated "I wouldn’t put too much weight into Qatar Airways’ disclosed results here. I’m not saying they’re fabricating anything, but rather when the government owns the airport, airline, and just about everything else, then the financial results for the airline alone may not paint an accurate picture". And this "A 69 million USD loss is significantly less than I was expecting, and I’m sure I’m not alone in that".
Qatar airways can kiss my proverbial. Screw them and their lies and their fraud.
Just expect a much nicer annual loss in the next year. Because actually most plane are flying half empty (or worst).
Betray PC member, higher fare price, complicated redemption, impossible to solve problem on the phone... the effect will be sensible...soon.
@ Chris
"Because actually most plane are flying half empty (or worst)"
Really? Not the ones I've been on - 10 flights in the last 6 months. Every Qsuite flight was completely full in J (didn't check out the other parts of the plane). Every non-Qsuite flight at least 80%+ full in J.
@ Robbo
If your post was a little more grammatically correct I'd assume you were a PR agent employed by the US3. But citing those paragons of truth as evidence of anything is, well, let's be charitable and say you are easy to persuade. Presumably you also don't think that US tax breaks for the US airlines are the same as "subsidies"...?
QR only publishes figures for the entire group. QR airline was never profitable! interestingly, due to the deal made with USA, QR needs to publish their annual report under ISA accounting rules. Nevertheless, by hiding the airline within many other (non) related group companies, QR can easily disguise their true disastrous financial performance. Where are the hundreds of millions of dollars accounted for their sponsoring contracts with the Football Club Bayern Munich and other clubs? This annual report does not reflect the true circumstances of the airline. Check it out for yourself:
https://www.qatarairways.com/en/press-releases/2018/september/qatar-airways-sustains-strong-ebitdar-supported-by-capacity-grow.html?activeTag=Press-releases
@ The nice Paul
Qsuite is 22 planes only, the QR fleet is 193 planes. People crave for trying Qsuite (and Qsuite are deployed in some major routes, it's evident to understand why it's rarely empty.
I agree some routes are doing well like SIN or US/LON (and some other), but some are just NOT doing well, just read Flyertalk about it, many report 2-3 passengers on J. I fly some of these routes too, I am not flying US.