Qatar Airways Pandemic Strategy Pays Off, Reaching 97% Seat Factor

It appears that Qatar Airways’ choice to keep flying during COVID was a good one since the airline had a 97% seat factor in July.

Since competitors grounded their planes in March 2020 due to the pandemic, the airline briefly became the largest worldwide carrier.

Now, according to a newly published BITRE report from the Department of Infrastructure, it can be shown that its seat booking factor was 97% on inbound flights from the country’s main airport into Australia and 92% on outbound services.

According to those numbers, approximately 110,000 people flew in on 165 flights and exited on 162 services.

Amid the pandemic, Qatar Airways launched a massive global campaign promising to send travellers “home.” The airline’s promotional film stated, “Where others are stepping away, we stand by your side to get you to where you need to go.”

We are not taking advantage,” CEO Akbar Al Baker wrote at the start of the pandemic.

“Help those who wish to be with their families at this difficult time”.

Australia closed its borders and forbade its people and inhabitants from leaving, eventually instituting return caps.

Residents and citizens were permitted to travel in November 2021, followed by students, backpackers, and skilled migrants shortly after that.

The controversial decree was lifted in July 2022 after the government welcomed vaccinated tourists in February.

In July 2022, international passenger traffic totalled 2.057 million, which is still much lower than the 3.736 million recorded in July 2019 before the pandemic.