As several airlines report drops in demand for U.S. travel, Qatar Airways is painting a different picture. In a recent Qatar Economic Forum interview at Hamad International Airport, Qatar CEO Badr Mohammed Al Meer shared insights on the airline’s performance, strategy, and plans amid global economic uncertainties.
Al Meer acknowledged the impact of recent tariffs on Qatar’s operations, particularly in the supply chain and cargo sectors.
“We have gone through a lot at Qatar Airways, and we have proven over and over that we are a resilient airline,” he said.
Even with these challenges, he reported strong passenger demand across the network, especially in the United States. Al Meer noted that Qatar is seeing load factors of 86%-87% on U.S. routes, with April showing historically high demand.
“It’s the contrary in our case … But we see very high demand all over our network, especially in the United States,” he said. “And we can see this continuing in May and in June. So we are not experiencing this lower interest.”
Record-Breaking Profits
Al Meer also shared that the carrier is set to announce record-breaking profits in the coming weeks. He stated, “Last year, [we saw] record-breaking profit for Qatar Airways. This year, we will break our record again, but not by a small margin. I’m not talking about 1 to 5%, but much higher than this.”
The airline continues to expand its fleet with ongoing deliveries of Boeing 787-9 and Airbus A350-1000 aircraft. Al Meer also mentioned upcoming deliveries of A321neos and expectations for the yet-to-be-certified Boeing 777X in late 2026 or early 2027.
A significant announcement regarding a new widebody aircraft order is expected in the coming weeks. Al Meer stated that the airline is evaluating offers from both Boeing and Airbus, with a decision to be made soon.
