[ad_1]
DUBAI, July 5 (AP) – Qatar Airways reported a profit of $1.2 billion in the past year on Wednesday, thanks to its role in transporting fans to the Soccer World Cup.
The long-haul carrier said its revenue rose to $21 billion, up 45% from the previous year. The annual passenger volume reached 31.7 million, an increase of 71%.
Read also | Israel is sending its largest ever team to the UN Climate Forum in Dubai.
The airline said it had flown 1.4 million passengers to Qatar for the FIFA World Cup. It also expanded its network to more than 160 destinations.
Qatar Airways operates out of a gleaming new airport in the Qatari capital, Doha, and competes with long-haul carriers Emirates and Etihad Airways, which operate in the nearby United Arab Emirates.
Read also | Russia and Ukraine have accused each other of plotting to attack the Zaporozhye nuclear power plant.
Qatar Airways has weathered the most difficult months of the pandemic with a $3 billion lifeline provided by the Qatari government. Its main rival, Dubai’s flag carrier Emirates, has also received billions of dollars in payments from the Dubai government during the pandemic.
The two airlines are the economic backbone of their respective countries, relying heavily on tourists and transit passengers.
The Qatar Airways brand, familiar to fans across Europe, has partnerships with Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain. In the US, it has a brand partnership with the Brooklyn Nets. (Associated Press)
(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from a syndicated news feed, the latest staff may not have modified or edited the body of content)
share now