DOHA, Qatar – Qatar Airways is globally recognised as being one of the fastest growing airlines in the world and now the national carrier has reinforced that reputation again in the digital sphere. Last week the Skytrax ‘World’s Best Airline’ achieved the impressive benchmark of having one million followers on Instagram, the world’s most popular photo-sharing platform.

Having only launched its Instagram account in May 2013 the award-winning airline has managed to interest and attract new followers at an average rate of 30,000 people per month thanks to its engaging and diverse eye-catching imagery. Often showcasing the hugely popular destinations on Qatar Airways’ extensive network, the captivating Instagram account allows followers to travel the world from their own homes, inspiring them to explore new environments and experience new cultures. Among the most popular posts have been Sydney, with a stunning air-to-air image of the airline’s first flight over the Opera House; LA with Mariah Carey performing at an intimate dinner and a spectacular landing near the beach in Phuket.

Qatar Airways cabin crew, pilots and passengers have proven to be the best advocates for the global brand showcasing the airline to the world from a first-person perspective. Instagram is one of the most powerful and fastest-growing social media platforms, allowing users to share images and videos with their online community. Especially popular in the GCC, Instagram has become a valuable tool for any international brand looking to engage with consumers in this region.

Ms. Salam Al Shawa, Senior Vice President of Marketing and Corporate Communications at Qatar Airways said: “Achieving this milestone of one million followers, plus the continuous growth across all of our social media platforms, aligns with Qatar Airways’ vision to be number one in the aviation industry. Our social media platforms allow us to communicate directly with people all over the world and is the truest embodiment of our brand campaign – Going places together. Our strategy for sharing the story and spirit of Qatar Airways with our followers through inspirational and engaging content has seen our relationship with our global community continue to grow and flourish.”

No stranger to innovation on its aircraft, Qatar Airways has continued to experiment and push the boundaries online. Qatar’s national carrier is forging new ground on Snapchat (qatar-airways), and is currently one of the only airlines in the world active on the emerging social media platform. Never shy of taking its followers behind-the-scenes, the airline makes extensive use of GoPro cameras to capture footage of inaugural flights from the pilot’s perspective. And at the most recent ITB Berlin, Qatar Airways unveiled a bespoke interactive hologram, designed to showcase new aircraft at trade shows across the world.

Qatar Airways, like many successful global brands, has harnessed the power of social media to share content and create a dialogue with fans and it is clearly paying off. This year saw the airline ranked as one of the world’s most valuable brands for the first time, becoming the first Qatari company to be represented in the 2016 Top 500 Global Brand ranking. With 14 additional new destinations announced for this year at ITB, Qatar Airways anticipates further growth across its social media networks to align with the rapid growth in its network.

Qatar Airways recently launched the latest evolution of its brand with the Going Places Together campaign, which has seen an incredible level of support and engagement from social media fans and passengers. Qatar Airways has distinguished itself as a world-leading brand, and as it continues to grow, it will continue to invest in its relationships with passengers and the communities it serves, both offline and on.