Qatar Airways posts huge increase in losses, blames ongoing blockade

Qatar Airways posted a $639 million net loss for the full year of 2019, a massive increase from this time last year when the airline announced losses of approximately $69 million. The airline has said that higher fuel costs, foreign exchange fluctuations and an ongoing blockade with its neighbours have impacted the airline massively. The United Arab Emirates, which was a key market for the Gulf carrier, along with Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Egypt, have enforced an economic boycott of Qatar since June 2017. Because of the blockade, the airline is having to fly longer routes to avoid certain airspace.