The ongoing geopolitical uncertainty in the Middle East failed to take the shine off Qatar Airways Group’s financial health, as the venture registered a post-tax profit of QAR7.08 billion (USD1.94 billion) for financial year 2025/26.
The airline, during the period, carried more than 41.8 million passengers, maintaining extensive global connectivity through its main hub Hamad International Airport.
The cargo division, on the other hand, transported more than 1.43 million tonnes of chargeable weight, further consolidating its position as the world’s largest air freight carrier with a 12% global market share.
“The airline also maintained industry‑leading punctuality, achieving an 86% on‑time performance, placing it firmly among the top five most punctual carriers worldwide, and securing the most coveted recognition in global airline operations benchmarking, the Cirium Platinum Award for Operational Excellence,” said the Qatar Airways Group.
Hamad Al-Khater, Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive Officer (CEO), said, “It is not often that a single financial year asks an organisation to demonstrate both the best of what it can achieve and the depth of what it can withstand. The 2025/26 financial year did both, and the Qatar Airways Group rose to each in turn. These results speak to the strength of this group across every measure that matters — a strong balance sheet, industry-leading operations, partnerships of real depth, and people who maintained the standards this group is known for, even under the most demanding conditions.”
“Behind every result are 57,800 people, working across more than 90 countries. In the final weeks of the financial year, many of them were managing an active crisis with a standard of professionalism that defines this organisation as much as any financial metric, and it deserves to be recognised. We are actively rebuilding our global network with the confidence that comes from a balance sheet that has never been stronger, partnerships that proved their depth when we needed them most, and an organisation that has demonstrated, under genuine pressure, exactly what it is capable of,” the senior official added further.
Among the key achievements of the 2025/26 financial year, Qatar Airways Group signed landmark agreements with Boeing and GE Aerospace for the acquisition and servicing of up to 210 aircraft and 400 engines. The deal emerged as one of the most significant fleet commitments in commercial aviation’s history.
The venture got rewarded as the “World’s Best Airline 2025” by Skytrax, an unprecedented recognition that, for the record ninth time, cemented the carrier’s excellence in global aviation. The Cirium Platinum Award for Operational Excellence, on the other hand, recognising the airline’s 86% on-time performance and elite operational standards, placing it among the world’s top five most punctual carriers.
As of May 2026, Qatar Airways operates the world’s first and largest Starlink-equipped widebody fleet, with high-speed in-flight connectivity live across Boeing 777, Airbus A350, and Boeing 787-8 aircraft, bringing seamless and free in-flight internet to passengers on various routes worldwide, including long-haul and ultra-long-haul.
The carrier’s hub, Hamad International Airport, also got rewarded last year. For the 11th consecutive year, Skytrax recognised the facility as the “Best Airport in the Middle East”, underlining it as the region’s premier aviation gateway.
Qatar Duty Free, one of the salient services offered by Hamad International Airport, also got awarded as the “Best Airport Shopping” globally by Skytrax for the third successive year, reflecting continued investment in the passenger retail and hospitality experience at the hub.
However, the carrier has flagged progress in rebuilding its global schedule as it navigates the impact of the Iran war, with the temporary airspace closures in the Middle East forcing thousands of cancellations since the conflict started at the end of February 2026.
As per Al-Khater, despite the headwinds, the Gulf carrier aims to expand its network to reach more than 160 destinations by this summer.