Qatar Airways is looking positively towards Brazil and the Latin American market as part of its global network expansion strategy. After experiencing a surge in business during the World Cup, the airline reported a record annual revenue of $21 billion in 2022, up 45% from the previous year, and a net profit of $1.21 billion.
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Despite the non-recurring boost, the airline still foresees a bright future ahead. According to Craig Thomas, the carrier’s vice president of sales in the Americas, the airline sees 2023 and 2024 shaping up well. The World Cup was part of Qatar’s strategy to attract 6 million visitors per year by 2030, and the goal now is to capitalize on the legacy left by the event.
In order to achieve this, the airline plans to promote improved infrastructure, such as hotels and restaurants, and encourage travelers to stay for a few days when making a connection in Qatar. Qatar Airways has revealed its plan to expand its destinations to more than 255 from 170, depending on a bigger expansion of its fleet. The carrier is bringing back flights to Buenos Aires via Sao Paulo, hoping to attract both Argentines and Brazilians to their top international destinations.
The airline will also increase its Sao Paulo-Doha service to 18 from 14 flights a week, allowing it to connect most of its network by Qatar’s capital to the Southern Hemisphere’s largest city, regardless of departure time. “Our flights from Brazil are operating at very high load factors already, to the point where we’re having to turn away some customers because the flights are very full,” Thomas said. The South America expansion, he said, will certainly take place in 2024. “We are very confident and optimistic about the Brazil market, very enthusiastic about the growth that we’ve seen and the demand that continues.”