DOHA - Qatar Airways is pleased to announce that it has been awarded the Middle East Deal of the Year 2003 accolade at the 24th Annual Airfinance Conference in New York on 27 April 2004.
This award, from Airfinance Journal, recognises the USD 2.2 billion worth of financing completed by Qatar Airways during 2003 and specifically two high profile transactions. The first of these was a predelivery payment facility with Qatar National Bank for the Airbus A380 super jumbo; the second was an innovative interest rate swap for a package of thirteen of the airline’s A320 and A330 aircraft provided by Standard Chartered Bank, which converted floating interest rate financings into fixed interest obligations.
Akbar Al Baker, CEO of Qatar Airways, said, “We are very proud indeed to receive this award from Airfinance Journal in recognition of our extensive financing deals recorded last year, the broad relationships we have established with a diverse group of banks and, in particular, the landmark A380 financing and our comprehensive interest rate swap.
Doha-based Qatar Airways will operate a fleet of 110 aircraft by 2013 – almost double the existing size. Qatar Airways has ordered 80 Airbus A350s, 60 Boeing 787s and 32 Boeing 777s, with deliveries of the latter having started in November 2007. The airline is a launch customer of the twin-deck Airbus A380 ‘super jumbos’ with five aircraft on order and scheduled for delivery from 2010. Qatar Airways moves to the New Doha International Airport in 2010, when the first phase of the new facility opens. For more information, visit www.ndiaproject.com
Qatar Airways is one of only six airlines in the world with a Five Star ranking for service and excellence awarded by Skytrax, the independent aviation industry monitoring agency. Skytrax also named Qatar Airways’ cabin crew as Best in the Middle East for the fifth year running in 2007 following a survey of more than 15 million passengers worldwide. For more information, log onto www.qatarairways.com
Qatar Airways Corporate Communications
Tel: +974 4496956, Fax: +974 4620132
E-mail: qrmedia@qatarairways.com.qa