The aircraft underwent a two-month inspection, including a check on its oil-lever starter.  Two landing gears were also replaced with spares and the weather radar was replaced with a serviceable unit.

Profits for the Group, which includes cargo, catering and Qatar Duty Free, reached US$2.15bn in the 24/25 fiscal year – an increase of more than US$0.5bn on the year before.

Qatar Airways Cargo delivered a strong financial performance recording a 17% growth in revenue and achieving the best financial results since the COVID period. This is attributed to its agility in adapting to shifting market conditions, a focus on investing in digitalisation, deeper data-driven analyses, and its best-in-class reliability.

Qatar Airways Group chief executive officer, Badr Mohammed Al-Meer, said: “These record-breaking results are a testament to the hard work, skill and dedication of teams across all of Qatar Airways Group. I know that none of the outstanding results we’re announcing today would be possible without our people – more than 55,000 of them across the globe - and it’s our focus on fostering that talent, which has been a core focus of our Qatar Airways 2.0 strategy.

“We have also successfully implemented strategic partnerships throughout the industry, in order for the Group to remain agile in the face of ever-shifting world events, whether political, economic or environmental.

“All of this means we continue to offer and develop exceptional service in the skies, whether it’s the award-winning Qsuite, fine dining, or super-fast complimentary Starlink internet connectivity for all passengers.”

Key achievements of Qatar Airways Group over the last financial year include:

Record-breaking 28% increase in profit in 24/25 financial year.

Expansion of Hamad International Airport, enabling it to cater for 65m passengers annually.

First global airline, and first in MENA region, to install Starlink super-fast WiFi on its Boeing 777 fleet.

25% minority stake in Virgin Australia.

25% acquisition of South African premier regional airline, Airlink.

Introduction of conversational AI into its world-first digital cabin crew, Sama.

A range of technical MoUs future-proofing and diversifying the business across the sector, as well as working to fulfil the ambitions of the Qatar National Vision 2030.

Since 2023, the airline has steadily grown its fleet as part of a long-term strategy to double in size by 2030. This reflects Etihad’s ongoing approach to aligning its fleet with evolving network and operational needs.

 The agreement includes a mix of Boeing 787 and 777X aircraft, powered by GE engines and supported by a services package. These aircraft are expected to join the fleet from 2028 onwards and will support Etihad’s existing plans for growth in connectivity, operational efficiency, and guest experience.

“This commitment reflects our approach of carefully managing our fleet and expanding in line with demand and our long-term network plans,” said Antonoaldo Neves, chief executive officer, Etihad Airways. “Since 2023, we’ve made consistent additions to our fleet, and this latest step ensures we continue to meet our future requirements.”

Etihad is currently finalising a detailed plan that will shape the airline’s strategy through to 2035. The additional Boeing aircraft will form part of that evolving roadmap, ensuring the airline is well positioned to deliver extraordinary customer experiences and to remain financially self sustainable.

“This addition reflects Abu Dhabi’s ongoing investment in aviation as a key enabler of connectivity, tourism, and trade,” said Neves. “Etihad’s continued growth supports broader economic opportunity in the UAE and beyond.”

“It is going to happen very soon,” Jules Ndenga, CEO of ATL told African Aerospace on the sidelines of the African Airlines Association (AFRAA) 13th Aviation Stakeholders Convention held in Kigali from 11-13 May.

ATL was created in 2015 by the Rwandan Government as the holding company for the country’s air transport businesses and includes RwandAir, Rwanda Airports Company and private aviation operator Akagera Aviation.

The possibility of Qatar Airways taking a stake in RwandAir first emerged in February 2020, with Qatar attracted by the opportunity to help build a hub in the heart of Africa in a politically stable country with strong regional growth potential.

However, it has taken several years for the deal to reach this final stage. “We had some delays, mainly in the recent past, due to the shift from Qatar Airways to the Qatar Investment Authority (QIA),” explained Ndenga.

Initially, the Doha-based carrier was leading the investment into RwandAir, but it has been transferred to QIA, the sovereign wealth fund of Qatar. This meant a review of the investment agreement developed with Qatar Airways. “That exercise is complete,” said Ndenga, with the final legal, governmental and regulatory hurdles soon to be fully cleared.

The Qatari stake in RwandAir is seen as a key pillar in Kigali’s ambitions to develop its air transport eco-system to support the country’s economic and social development. The value of the investment has not been announced. QIA has also taken a 60% stake in development of the New Kigali International Airport creating a large regional hub scheduled to open in 2028.

With the benefits of the full investment agreement within sight, the two carriers have been working commercially since 2021 when they signed a codeshare spanning 65 routes across Africa and across the globe in addition to RwandAir beginning non-stop flights between Kigali and Doha.

“We are already working together, and we continue to grow our codeshare partnership which is at 80-plus destinations, and we co-operate on a few other areas,” said Yvonne Manzi Makolo, RwandAir CEO.

With African airlines facing a high-cost environment they find “scaling up a big challenge,” she told delegates at the AFRAA event. “What is great about the ongoing partnership with Qatar is it allows us to reset and to get things right.

“We are going through a whole transformation exercise as well to streamline RwandAir,” she explained. “This is looking at our business, all of our departments, asking whether we are right sized, whether we have the right people in the right jobs, looking at our network and our fleet,” said Makolo.

Collaborating on this transformation with a more experienced airline is key in enabling RwandAir to achieve its growth ambitions, she explained.

At present, RwandAir operates a fleet of three Airbus A330 widebodies, six Boeing 737NGs, two Bombardier CRJ900s and two De Havilland Dash 8-400s.

The fleet plan is regularly reviewed, but “from an ambition perspective we definitely want to double our fleet in the next five years,” said Makolo. The tie-up with Qatar Airways will help in this regard. “It is about leveraging their muscle in terms of negotiating and sourcing suitable aircraft for us.”

The conclusion of Qatar’s equity stake in RwandAir will be Doha’s second investment in an African-based carrier. In August 2024, Qatar Airways announced it had acquired a 25% stake in South African carrier Airlink.

At the deal signing, Qatar Airways Group chief executive officer, Badr Mohammed Al-Meer, said: “Our investment in Airlink further demonstrates how integral we see Africa being to our business’ future.”

Air Arabia reported a net profit of AED 355 million (US$96,661million) for the first three months ending March 31, 2025; an increase of 34 percent compared to 2024.

In the same period, the airline posted a turnover of AED 1.75 billion, a 14 percent increase compared to the first quarter of last year. More than 4.9 million passengers flew with Air Arabia Group between January and March 2025 across the carrier’s operating hubs, an increase of 11 percent compared to the total number of passengers carried in the first quarter of last year, while the airline’s average seat load factor – or passengers carried as a percentage of available seats – during the first three months of 2025 stood at an impressive 84% per cent.

Sheikh Abdullah Bin Mohammad Al Thani, Chairman of Air Arabia, said: “The strong start to 2025 reflects Air Arabia’s continued resilience and strategic agility in navigating a constantly evolving regional and global landscape. Our robust financial and operational performance in the first quarter underscores the success of our low-cost business model, the effectiveness of our disciplined cost management, and our unwavering commitment to operational efficiency and delivering exceptional value to our customers”.

The order, with another option of 50, was made following a visit to Doha from US President Donald Trump who is currently on tour of the Middle East.

Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg, who signed the deal alongside Qatar Airways CEO Badr Mohammed Al-Meer, described it as “the largest order of jets in the history of Boeing.”

Al-Meer said: “We are happy to announce our agreement with Boeing and our partnership in the largest widebody aircraft order in Boeing’s history and the biggest aircraft order in our history. This is a critical next step for Qatar Airways on our path as we invest in the cleanest, youngest and most efficient fleet in global aviation.  This is so we can meet the strong demand in the airline as we seamlessly connect passengers to the world better than anyone.”

He added: “After two consecutive years of record-breaking commercial performance and with this historic Boeing aircraft order – we’re not simply chasing scale; we’re building strength that will allow us to continue to deliver our unmatched products and customer experiences. We thank our partners at Boeing for answering the call and look forward to a future of continued smart growth together.”

The order includes:

130 787 Dreamliners, the long-range, ultra-efficient widebody airplane family that has delivered a 25% fuel-use improvement and superior comfort for passengers.

30 777-9s, the world’s largest twin-engine airplane that is designed to set new standards in efficiency by reducing fuel use and emissions by 25% compared to the airplanes it replaces, while elevating the passenger flight experience.

Options for an additional 50 787 and 777X aircraft

Boeing Commercial Airplanes President and CEO, Stephanie Pope, said: “We are deeply honoured that Qatar Airways has placed this record-breaking order with Boeing, one that solidifies their future fleet with our market-leading widebody airplane family at its centre. Our team is looking forward to building 787s and 777s for Qatar Airways into the next decade as they connect more people and businesses around the world with unmatched efficiency and comfort.”

GE Aerospace

Qatar Airways has also signed an agreement GE Aerospace for more than 400 engines, including 60 GE9X and 260 GEnx engines, with additional options and spares, to power its next-generation Boeing 777-9 and Boeing 787 aircraft – the largest widebody engine purchase in the history of GE Aerospace.

Under the terms of the mandate, JP Lease will arrange equity and Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation (SMBC) will provide the debt to Turkish Airlines for the delivery of one A350-900 and one A321-271NX aircraft (both expected in 2026).  SMBC’s loan is supported 100% with an ANPI policy provided by the SAAFI insurers, Sompo and AXIS.  This use of the SAAFI ANPI product in connection with a Japanese Operating Lease with Call Option (JOLCO) structure has allowed Turkish Airlines to significantly lower its all-in cost of financing. 

"We are pleased to be the launching customer of “SAAFI” with the support of our valued insurers Sompo and AXIS, Insurance broker Willis, our long-term business partners SMBC and JP Lease. As Turkish Airlines, we are committed to participate in the development of innovative solutions that support our growth and fleet renewal strategies. With financing models like SAAFI, we not only enhance our financial flexibility and resilience but also reinforce our leadership in the industry,” said Assoc. Prof. Murat Şeker, Turkish Airlines chief financial officer and member of the board and the executive committee.

The airline welcomed 1.7 million guests during the month, up 21% compared to the same period last year, as Etihad's upward trajectory continued. The airline recorded a passenger load factor of 89% in April, a significant improvement from 84% in April 2024, while maintaining its expanded capacity and increased operating fleet size.

Year-to-date, Etihad has welcomed 6.7 million passengers, 1 million more than the same period in 2024, keeping the airline firmly on track to exceed 21 million passengers in 2025.

Antonoaldo Neves, Etihad Airways CEO, said: "April was another exceptionally strong month for Etihad, with impressive passenger growth of 21% compared to the same period last year. With almost 7 million guests flown in the first four months alone, we’re building strong momentum toward another record-breaking year."

"Our April load factor of 89% shows customers continue to choose Etihad for our quality of service, network, and overall value. We’re now on track to carry more than 21 million guests in 2025 – more than ever before in our history”.

"As we move forward into the busy summer season, we remain focused on our growth strategy while maintaining the exceptional travel experience that our guests have come to expect from Etihad."

Group operating revenue grew by 15.5% year-on-year to KD 53.6 million. Driven by a strong demand for travel, passenger traffic grew by 7.7% to 1.2 million, with ancillary revenue growing by 29.1%. Jazeera’s growth captured a 32.3% market share of Kuwait’s passenger traffic, making Jazeera Kuwait’s largest carrier in the quarter.

Marwan Boodai, Chairman, Jazeera Airways said: “We are proud to deliver strong results for the first quarter of 2025. This performance demonstrates that our five-year growth plan and focused investments in digital transformation as well as the expansion of our ancillary revenue streams are delivering tangible outcomes. In addition to this, our focus on delivering the lowest unit cost, particularly in aircraft and operational areas, have further reinforced Jazeera’s foundation for sustained profitability and long-term excellence.”

First Quarter 2025 Operational Review

During the quarter, Jazeera Airways restarted flights to Sarajevo and announced its largest ever summer network when it will launch four new leisure-focused routes to Budapest (Hungary), Sochi (Russia), Yerevan (Armenia), and Hurghada (Egypt). The airline also introduced innovative ancillary service bundles, "Hayakom” for personalised travel services at Jazeera Terminal 5 (T5) and products for flexible travel like Cancel for Any Reason (CAFR) and Disruption for Any Reason (DAFR).

Positive Outlook

Looking ahead, Jazeera Airways said it remains focused on executing its five-year growth strategy to optimize operational efficiency, enhance customer experience, and drive low unit cost. The airline is also preparing for a busy summer season with over 700,000 seats on offer and upcoming Hajj traffic while continuing to invest in digital innovations for elevated passenger experience.

As part of its digital transformation strategy, Jazeera has successfully upgraded to a new Passenger Service System (PSS) and launched the first phase of its new Customer Experience (CX) and Feedback Intelligence platform.

To lead the exciting journey ahead, Jazeera recently introduced new C-Suite leadership with Captain Ayman Alshammari as Chief Operating Officer, Ginny Sethi as Chief People Officer and Paul Carroll as Chief Commercial Officer.

Ongoing fleet optimisation continues, with a shift to a 180-seat configuration on track and slated to be completed by 4Q 2025. The airline is also awaiting the arrival of 26 new aircraft – 18 A320neo and 8 A321neo. Scheduled for delivery starting 2026, the new fleet will lead to scaling operations, entering new markets and an accelerated commercial and e-commerce strategy. To support increasing passenger traffic, significant upgrades are also being undertaken at Jazeera Terminal 5.

On May 8, 2025, AerCap CEO Aengus Kelly met with Captain Ahmed Adel, Chairman of EgyptAir Holding Company, in Cairo to discuss new opportunities for collaboration, focusing on providing advanced aircraft to enhance EgyptAir’s regional and global competitiveness.

AerCap currently finances 28 aircraft in EgyptAir’s fleet, including Boeing B777-300ERs, Airbus A320/321neos, and Boeing B787-9s.

Discussions addressed global aviation trends, including rising demand for aircraft leasing amid delivery delays, and explored future projects to align with EgyptAir’s plans to modernise its fleet with fuel-efficient, technologically advanced models.

“EgyptAir is a key partner in Africa and the Middle East, and we are proud to support their ambitious growth strategy,” said Aengus Kelly, CEO of AerCap. “Our collaboration reflects a shared commitment to innovation and sustainability, ensuring EgyptAir remains a leader in global aviation.”

Captain Ahmed Adel emphasised AerCap’s role as a strategic partner, noting that nearly 40% of EgyptAir’s fleet operates under leasing agreements with AerCap. “This partnership enables us to integrate cutting-edge aircraft, supporting our goals of operational efficiency, environmental sustainability, and an elevated customer experience,” Adel stated.