Qatar Airways Archives - Aviation Today

Berlin, Germany: Emirates President Sir Tim Clark has declared that the Dubai-based carrier will rebound "hard and fast" from the aviation disruption caused by ongoing conflict in the Middle East, while warning European airlines against assuming the current challenges facing Gulf carriers will provide a lasting competitive advantage. In Berlin ahead of the Berlin Air Show, Clark said Emirates remains committed to maintaining capacity despite the operational and financial pressures created by regional airspace closures and geopolitical instability. "My message to all of them, be careful what you wish for, we will be back very hard and fast," Clark said, referring to European airlines that have benefited from reduced competition as Middle Eastern carriers were forced to scale back some operations. The conflict, which has affected airspace across parts of the Middle East since late February, has disrupted operations for major Gulf carriers including Emirates, Qatar Airways and Etihad Airways. The restrictions created opportunities for several European airlines to increase capacity on routes to Asia and other long-haul markets. Despite the challenges, Clark stressed that Emirates has no plans to reduce services. "We have no intention of cutting back, reducing, or anything else," he said. According to Clark, the airline will continue routing passengers through Dubai to destinations including India and Australia while implementing additional operational safeguards such as carrying extra fuel on affected routes. The Emirates chief also warned that prolonged instability could have severe consequences for weaker airlines, particularly low-cost carriers operating with thinner margins. "If this crisis goes on for too long, there will be some casualties, likely in the budget airline sector first," Clark said. Clark's comments echoed concerns raised by International Air Transport Association (IATA) Director General Willie Walsh, who recently warned that rising fuel costs, airspace restrictions and operational disruptions could accelerate consolidation within the airline industry. Beyond the regional crisis, Clark renewed Emirates' long-running campaign for access to Berlin, arguing that the airline has contributed significantly to the German economy through aircraft purchases and supplier relationships. "We have brought enormous economic wealth to Germany just by virtue of what we've bought," Clark said. "We have very compelling reasons to be allowed to go to Berlin." Emirates has secured airport slots in Berlin but has yet to receive the regulatory approvals required to launch services. Clark said the airline continues to see strong demand for the German capital and has been lobbying successive governments for access since the 1990s. The Emirates president also pushed back against criticism from Lufthansa regarding the competitive position of Gulf carriers. "It is a listed company, and it needs to fight its own corner without going to the government and hiding behind its skirts," Clark said in response to claims that Gulf airlines enjoy unfair advantages. Fleet planning was another major topic during the briefing. Clark reiterated Emirates' concerns regarding the performance of Rolls-Royce Trent XWB-97 engines powering the Airbus A350-1000, saying the airline remains unconvinced that the aircraft currently meets its operational requirements in Gulf conditions. "I don't think we are in a position to take the A350-1000 until we've seen whatever engine improvements they make," Clark said. He added that the aircraft performs well in temperate climates but faces greater challenges in the Gulf environment, where high temperatures, dust and demanding operating conditions place additional stress on engines. While Emirates has expanded its fleet with Airbus A350-900 aircraft and remains heavily reliant on its Airbus A380 and Boeing 777 fleets, Clark indicated that a future replacement for the A380 could eventually reopen discussions regarding the larger A350-1000 once engine durability concerns are resolved. Clark also expressed confidence in Boeing's progress on the long-delayed 777X programme, stating that Emirates expects to receive its first aircraft in 2027 after years of delays. Addressing speculation about succession plans, the 76-year-old executive said he has no immediate intention of retiring and remains focused on guiding the airline through the current period of uncertainty. "We have a team of people working in Emirates, some of them are lifers like me, who live and breathe the carrier," Clark said. "So if I was to step out personally, I would be quite confident that the people left in place to run the business are so well attuned to the criticality of the message that it would not be affected by my absence." Clark's remarks come as airlines worldwide grapple with higher fuel costs, airspace restrictions and ongoing aircraft delivery delays, with industry leaders closely watching how quickly Gulf carriers can restore normal operations once regional conditions stabilize.

Emirates’ President Says European Airlines Shouldn’t Bet On Gulf Carrier Weakness

Aviation Today News Desk / June 10, 2026

Berlin, Germany: Emirates President Sir Tim Clark has declared that the Dubai-based carrier will rebound “hard and fast” from the […]

Airlines

Qatar Airways Named World’s Best Airline For 2026 As Asia, Middle East Dominate

Aviation Today News Desk / March 19, 2026

Global aviation benchmarking platform AirlineRatings.com has released its “World’s Best Airlines for 2026” report, naming Qatar Airways as the world’s

Middle East

Over 23,000 Flights Cancelled To And From Middle East Hubs Amid Escalating Conflict

Aviation Today News Desk / March 6, 2026

Dubai, United Arab Emirates: Escalating geopolitical tensions in the Middle East have triggered widespread disruptions across the global aviation network,

Middle East

US–Israel–Iran War Trigggers Widespread Airspace Closures, 4,000+ Flight Cancellations

Aviation Today News Desk / March 2, 2026

Middle East: Global air travel faced unprecedented disruption this weekend after the United States and Israel launched a large-scale attack

Global: Airlines worldwide demonstrated notable operational resilience in 2025, maintaining competitive on-time performance levels despite persistent air traffic congestion, aircraft availability constraints, weather volatility, and geopolitical airspace restrictions, according to the Cirium On-Time Performance Review 2025. The annual report, regarded as the aviation industry’s definitive benchmark for punctuality, evaluated airline performance from January 1 to December 31, 2025, using verified actual gate arrival data sourced from airlines, airports, and civil aviation authorities worldwide Qatar Airways was named 2025 Platinum Airline, recognizing the carrier’s overall operational consistency across schedule execution, disruption recovery, and network reliability. Qatar Airways achieved an 84.42% on-time arrival rate in 2025, an improvement from 82.83% the previous year, while operating approximately 198,300 flights globally. The airline also maintained a near-perfect completion factor, indicating very low cancellation levels across its network The report noted that sustaining and improving punctuality at this scale is particularly challenging for large network carriers operating long-haul, multi-time-zone schedules through tightly banked hubs. For the second consecutive year, Aeromexico ranked as the most on-time global airline, recording a 90.02% on-time arrival performance across nearly 189,000 flights in 2025. The airline consistently maintained on-time performance near or above the 90% threshold throughout the year, reinforcing its reputation for operational discipline and reliability at scale. Cirium highlighted Aeromexico’s ability to sustain industry-leading punctuality despite operating from highly congested airports Regional Airline On-Time Performance Leaders Cirium’s 2025 review also identified top-performing airlines by region based on on-time arrival metrics: Asia-Pacific: Philippine Airlines – 83.12% North America: Delta Air Lines – 80.90% Europe: Iberia Express – 88.94% Latin America: Copa Airlines – 90.75% Middle East & Africa: FlySafair – 91.06% Each airline met eligibility criteria, including minimum data coverage and completion factor requirements, ensuring fair comparison across regions and operating models The analysis emphasized that 2025 marked a shift from short-term disruptions to structural operational pressure. Airlines faced ongoing air traffic control staffing shortages, constrained airspace in several regions, supply chain delays affecting aircraft availability, and increased weather-related disruptions. Despite these challenges, top-performing airlines demonstrated that realistic scheduling, disciplined operational control, and data-driven decision-making remain critical to maintaining punctuality. On-time performance is more than a punctuality indicator. High OTP directly supports customer trust, cost efficiency, aircraft utilization, and crew stability, making it a strategic priority for airlines operating in a high-demand, low-margin environment. Airports worldwide delivered strong on-time departure performance in 2025 despite rising traffic volumes, airspace constraints, and weather-related disruptions, according to the Cirium On-Time Performance Review 2025 Istanbul Airport (IST) received Platinum Award for Airports, recognizing sustained operational excellence across schedule reliability, departure punctuality, and disruption recovery throughout the year In category-specific rankings: Santiago Arturo Merino Benítez International Airport (Chile) was named the world’s most on-time Large Airport, recording an 87.04% on-time departure rate, leading global peers despite rapid capacity growth Panama City Tocumen International Airport topped the Medium Airport category, reflecting consistent gate departure efficiency at a major regional hub Guayaquil José Joaquín de Olmedo International Airport (Ecuador) emerged as the Small Airport category leader, delivering the highest on-time departure performance within its segment The report noted a strong correlation between airport punctuality and airline reliability, highlighting the role of coordinated ground operations, infrastructure planning, and air traffic management in maintaining schedule integrity. Airports achieving top rankings demonstrated that disciplined operational control can sustain high departure performance even under structural pressures.

Global Aviation

Global Airlines And Airports Show Strong On-Time Performance Despite 2025 Pressures

Aviation Today News Desk / January 18, 2026

Airlines worldwide demonstrated notable operational resilience in 2025, maintaining competitive on-time performance levels despite persistent air traffic congestion, aircraft availability

Airlines

Qatar Airways Group Appoints Hamad Ali Al-Khater As New Group Chief Executive Officer

Aviation Today News Desk / December 10, 2025

Doha, Qatar: Qatar Airways Group has announced the appointment of Hamad Ali Al-Khater as its new Group Chief Executive Officer,

Doha, Qatar: Qatar Airways has surpassed a key technological milestone, equipping more than 100 widebody aircraft with SpaceX Starlink satellite internet. The rollout marks one of the fastest deployments of next-generation in-flight connectivity in the global aviation sector. The airline confirmed the milestone in an official statement, noting that installations are progressing “ahead of schedule” across its long-haul fleet. The achievement places Qatar Airways among the world’s leaders in satellite-based onboard Wi-Fi adoption. According to the carrier, more than 30,000 flights have already operated with Starlink connectivity since the first installation in October 2024, offering uninterrupted gate-to-gate high-speed internet across six continents. Over 50 percent of Qatar Airways’ widebody fleet is now equipped, with the Boeing 777 programme fully completed and work on the Airbus A350 fleet advancing rapidly. Executives say the project is being executed at “record speed,” underscoring a strategic push to elevate Qatar Airways’ premium long-haul passenger experience. Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive Badr Mohammed Al-Meer said the airline is intensifying installation efforts, adding that the programme is “an immediate priority rather than a future ambition.” He highlighted that the airline is now operating up to 200 daily flights with Starlink connectivity. Starlink-equipped aircraft are delivering internet speeds of up to 500 Mbps on Boeing 777s, enabling live streaming, video calls, online gaming, and high-bandwidth work applications. The service remains free for all passengers, regardless of cabin class, an uncommon offer among major global airlines. The carrier says the onboard speeds outperform many home internet connections and have significantly expanded digital access for long-haul travellers. Qatar Airways aims to complete Starlink installation across its entire widebody fleet by the end of the year. The retrofit effort covers aircraft serving more than 170 destinations, making the upgraded connectivity available on a large share of the airline’s global network. The rapid rollout also reflects broader regional ambitions, with Qatar Airways remaining the only airline in the Middle East and North Africa to offer Starlink connectivity at this scale

Airlines

Qatar Airways Tops 100 Starlink Aircraft, Offering Free High-Speed Wi-Fi Worldwide

Aviation Today News Desk / November 20, 2025

Doha, Qatar: Qatar Airways has surpassed a key technological milestone, equipping more than 100 widebody aircraft with SpaceX Starlink satellite

Airlines

Mother Sues Qatar Airways For $5M Over Alleged Negligence In Child’s Allergy Case

Aviation Today News Desk / November 13, 2025

Virginia, United States: A North Carolina mother has filed a $5 million lawsuit against Qatar Airways, alleging that the airline’s

Ahmedabad, India: A Qatar Airways flight operating from Doha to Hong Kong declared a full emergency on Tuesday afternoon and made a precautionary landing at Ahmedabad’s Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport (SVPIA) after the aircraft reportedly experienced a sudden loss of cabin pressure. According to airport officials, Flight QR 816, operated by a Boeing 777-300ER (registration A7-BOB), was cruising through Indian airspace when the crew detected abnormal cabin pressure levels. At 2:12 p.m. (IST), Ahmedabad Air Traffic Control declared a full emergency, activating standard response protocols and alerting ground services, medical units, and firefighting teams. The aircraft landed safely at 2:32 p.m., and the emergency status was withdrawn six minutes later, once engineers confirmed there was no immediate safety threat. All passengers and crew members onboard were reported safe, with no injuries or medical emergencies. “The aircraft landed safely in Ahmedabad following a technical issue,” a Qatar Airways spokesperson said in a brief statement. “All passengers are being looked after, and the aircraft is currently undergoing maintenance checks before resuming operations.” Airport authorities confirmed that normal flight operations continued uninterrupted during and after the emergency response. Qatar Airways’ engineering team initiated a detailed inspection to determine the cause of the technical fault related to the cabin pressure system. Preliminary assessments suggested a pressurization system malfunction, but the airline has yet to release an official statement on the cause.

Incidents

Qatar Airways Doha–Hong Kong Flight Diverts To Ahmedabad After Cabin Pressure Loss

Aviation Today News Desk / October 15, 2025

Ahmedabad, India: A Qatar Airways flight operating from Doha to Hong Kong declared a full emergency on Tuesday afternoon and

Qatar Airways

Emirates’ President Says European Airlines Shouldn’t Bet On Gulf Carrier Weakness

Qatar Airways Named World’s Best Airline For 2026 As Asia, Middle East Dominate

Over 23,000 Flights Cancelled To And From Middle East Hubs Amid Escalating Conflict

US–Israel–Iran War Trigggers Widespread Airspace Closures, 4,000+ Flight Cancellations

Global Airlines And Airports Show Strong On-Time Performance Despite 2025 Pressures

Qatar Airways Group Appoints Hamad Ali Al-Khater As New Group Chief Executive Officer

Qatar Airways Tops 100 Starlink Aircraft, Offering Free High-Speed Wi-Fi Worldwide

Mother Sues Qatar Airways For $5M Over Alleged Negligence In Child’s Allergy Case

Qatar Airways Doha–Hong Kong Flight Diverts To Ahmedabad After Cabin Pressure Loss

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