London, UK – Qatar Airways has launched a global TV commercial campaign on BBC World, the commercially funded 24-hour news and information channel, to showcase the award-winning airline to the channel’s audience of more than 250 million households worldwide.

The 12-month campaign, announced at World Travel Market in London, features four 60-second corporate profiles focusing on Qatar Airways’ Five Star service, hospitality and brand quality.

The profiles, which were shot in Doha, capital of the State of Qatar in the Arabian Gulf, are designed to raise awareness of Qatar Airways, one of the fastest growing airlines in the world.

Highlighting Qatar Airways’ slogan ‘Taking You More Personally’ the profiles demonstrate the airline’s commitment to offering passengers an experience to remember.

Qatar Airways is one of only three airlines in the world to be awarded a Five Star ranking for quality and service by Skytrax, an independent aviation quality monitoring agency. Cabin crew have also been voted best in the Middle East and fifth best in the world following a Skytrax annual survey of more than two million passengers comprising 93 different nationalities.

Each of the four profiles centres on different aspects of Qatar – the airline’s Five Star experience, vision, tourism and infrastructure.

The Qatar Airways brand and its relationship with the environment of Qatar are shared in the TV profiles with emphasis on the premium Business Class seats and the high levels of service offered.

One features the role of Qatar Airways in Qatar, at the crossroads of East and West, which is enjoying an economic boom in the telecoms, business and tourism industries.

Another focuses on Qatar Airways’ world class service and the hospitality of both the airline and the people of Qatar.

As one of the youngest airlines in the world with modern aircraft in its fleet, the third delves into the inflight service and the relationship Qatar Airways enjoys with its passengers.

The fourth centres on Qatar Airways’ positioning as a Middle East and global airline offering true Arabic hospitality.

Qatar Airways operates scheduled flights from Doha to 53 destinations across Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Indian subcontinent and the Far East. By the end of 2005, the airline will serve at least 70 destinations, including cities in North America and Australia.

The airline operates 36 all-Airbus aircraft, one of the youngest fleets in the world, averaging under three years old. The fleet will nearly double in size over the next few years.

Over the next three months, six exciting new routes – Beijing, Seychelles, London Gatwick, Johannesburg, Cape Town and Yangon – will be added to the global network from Doha, further positioning Qatar Airways as a truly international brand.

Qatar Airways Chief Executive Officer, Akbar Al Baker said the airline’s rapid growth over the past seven years since its relaunch had taken it to new heights.

“We are young and developing fast as a global airline and pleased to be working with BBC World to show our innovative products to tens of millions of television viewers worldwide,” he said.

“Qatar Airways is all about luxury and offering our passengers quality and a personalised service which have helped us achieve Five Star status.

“Last year we embarked on our first ever TV commercial. The airline is growing at such a rapid rate offering the highest levels of service to passengers on the ground and in the air that we wanted to further communicate our brand message to a bigger audience.”

He added: ”Qatar Airways is spreading its wings to exciting new global destinations to cater for growing demand from a diverse group of business and leisure travellers.”

Hani Soubra, Regional Airtime Sales Manager, Middle East, BBC World, said: We are very pleased to be working with Qatar Airways to develop and extend its current advertising campaign to produce this high-profile campaign.”

“In addition to quality sponsorship and advertising opportunities, we have a cache of bespoke creative media solutions we can produce for our clients.”