Qatar Airways annual losses doubled to QR14.9 billion riyals ($4.1 billion) for the 12 months ending in March, as Covid-19 decimated its long-haul business model and led to write-downs across its fleet. Describing the period as "the most challenging and extraordinary" of its history, the Gulf carrier recorded impairments of QR8.4 billion across its Airbus A380s, A330s and Boeing 737 Max aircraft, adding that they are "not likely to be used in operation in the near future". However, the group highlights a slight narrowing of its operating losses to QR1.1 billion, as well as growth in EBITDA to QR6 billion in the period from QR5 billion in 2019/2020. This was despite revenue from scheduled passenger services collapsing by 78% to QR7.97 billion, with passenger numbers down 82%. Qatar Airways has pointedly striven to operate as much of its network as it can throughout the pandemic, with chief executive Akbar Al Baker underlining the carrier's commitment to enabling the flow of people and goods around the globe, providing a lifeline to some industries. Not only does the group expect this strategy to result in a greater market share, but also to play a role in bolstering customer confidence in returning to the skies – a core tenet of its recovery strategy. "Whilst our competitors grounded their aircraft and closed their routes, we adapted our entire commercial operation to respond to ever-evolving travel restrictions and never stopped flying, operating a network our passengers and customers could rely on", comments Baker. "With the support of our varied fleet of modern, fuel-efficient aircraft, we were able to ensure that more of our scheduled flights operated than any other carrier and fulfilled our mission of taking stranded passengers home, whilst maintaining global supply chains to transport medical aid and supplies essential to the fight against Covid-19," he adds. From a low of just 33 destinations at the peak of the crisis, Qatar Airways has rebuilt its network to operate on 140 routes today, "ensuring the airline is well-positioned to take advantage of the recovery of international travel", it notes. Weakness in passenger revenues were somewhat offset by gains in the Doha-based carrier's cargo unit, which more than tripled its daily services and recorded an overall 4.6% rise in freight carried to 2,727,986 tonnes. This, in combination with a "significant increase" in cargo yield, saw revenues at the unit more than double to QR18.5 billion - over twice that of its passenger operations. Although the carrier did not receive state support in the form of salary support, tax relief or grants, the Qatari government did provide an equity injection of $3 billion to support the "business continuity" throughout the period, it adds.

South African Airways has signed a co-operation agreement with Kenya Airways that envisages the establishment of a pan-African airline. Having recently restarted its services after a process of business reconstruction and the Covid-19 crisis, SAA foresees that such an initiative could "seek to enhance mutual growth potential by taking advantage of strengths of the two airlines' busy hubs." The broader agreement between the companies includes steps towards expanding their passenger and cargo networks, standardising products, and enabling the exchange of expertise, innovation, and best practices. "As well as being a strong local carrier, part of our broader growth strategy is to become a major player in regional travel, and this joint memorandum with Kenya Airways, one of the continent's strongest and most respected carriers, will do just that," states SAA interim chief executive Thomas Kgokolo. "Part of SAA's core remit is to be a significant enabler of business and trade in Africa, and it's through a strategic understanding like this that real progress will be made in advancing South Africa and the continent's growth." SAA says the airlines will now establish a joint working group to further the memorandum of co-operation's objectives. The agreement does not mandate exclusivity that would prevent either carrier from pursuing commercial co-operation with other airlines.

Lessor Air Lease (ALC) has delivered one new Boeing 737 Max 9 on long-term lease to Alaska Airlines. The aircraft, which is equipped with CFM International LEAP-1B engines, is the first of 13 new 737-9 jets confirmed to deliver to the airline from ALC's orderbook with Boeing, ALC says in a 27 September press release. The latest delivery joins six 737-9s flying in Alaska Airlines' fleet. "Our 737-9 experience has been terrific to date. The aircraft is fuel efficient, environmentally friendly, and our guests and teammates love flying it," says Nat Pieper, Alaska Airlines' senior vice president of fleet, finance and alliances.