Qatar Airways Currently Has The Highest Available Seat Kilometers In The World

Based on available seat kilometers (ASKs), Qatar Airways now operates more seats across the globe than any other commercial carrier. Data from the Official Airline Guide (OAG) indicates that in March 2021, the airline will have already operated more than 2.6 billion ASKs. This will maintain the carrier’s position as one of the biggest in the world, managing high numbers during the pandemic.

Across the world, the aviation industry is trying to get through a recovery period. Countries like Australia have already made a remarkable level of domestic recovery. However, recovery in Europe has been disrupted by the emergence of a third wave of the COVID-19 virus.

Qatar Airways has said that it is currently operating more than 1,000 within a week to over 130 destinations. With all the flights combined, the airline has operated 2.6 billion ASKs.

Available seat kilometers (ASKs) is simply a calculation of the number of seats an airline has flown, multiplied by how many kilometers are covered. So, an airline with an ASK of 6,000 might have operated ten flights with six seats and has covered over 10 kilometers.

The CEO of Qatar Airways Group, Akbar Al Baker, responded to the data published by OAG, saying,

“We have dedicated ourselves to being the airline passengers can rely on, operating with the highest hygiene and bio-safety standards… This independent data from OAG once again highlights Qatar Airways’ mission to be an airline that passengers and trade partners can rely on now and in the future as we offer unrivaled connectivity with a state-of-the-art and sustainable fleet.”

Since the COVID-19 pandemic caused a global lockdown, Qatar Airways has been recovering steadily. Although many other airlines grounded most of their fleets, Qatar continued to operate a core global network to cater to stranded travelers.