How Qatar Airways dethroned Emirates as biggest long-haul airline

Qatar Airways spent years in the shadow of Emirates Airline. An aggressive run at its rival during the pandemic has helped it eclipse Emirates as the world's biggest long-haul carrier -- for now. Doha-based Qatar is flying planes that are often near-empty on routes around the globe to increase market share. It is using a downsizing at Emirates to hire staff. And while other airlines have reduced services to markets closed by Covid-19, state-backed Qatar is pursuing new landing rights to emerge stronger post pandemic. In the past 12 months, Qatar has flown more seats further than any other airline on cross-border routes, according to data firm OAG. In the week starting Monday, the carrier is scheduled to fly more than twice the international capacity of Air France, over two-thirds more than Delta and over 13% more than Emirates. Across both domestic and long-haul travel, American Airlines remains the world's largest flier. Whether Qatar remains the world's biggest long-haul carrier by capacity partly depends on how quickly other airlines restore schedules, and if it has built up enough goodwill with customers to start filling flights as the world resumes travel. "We are ready for competition, we have never shied away from competition, we like competition," Qatar Airways CE Akbar Al Baker said, in a veiled reference to Emirates.<br/>