Doha
Qatar Airways said that it received $2.0 billion in state aid to weather the coronavirus crisis, as it posted huge annual losses after enduring one of its “most difficult years”.
The firm said that the combination of the coronavirus pandemic, a boycott by Gulf neighbours and the liquidation of 49 percent owned Air Italy which announced its bankruptcy in February had resulted in a near doubling of losses.
This brought the carrier’s net loss for the year to end-March to 7.0 billion riyals ($1.92 billion). “Qatar Airways is familiar with facing exceptional challenges; however, 2019-20 has been one of the most difficult years in the airline’s history,” the carrier said in a statement.
