Dubai, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES – Doha-based Qatar Airways is celebrating yet another achievement by being named Airline Of The Year at the annual Middle East and North Africa (MENA) travel awards in Dubai.
At a glittering ceremony held at the city’s Al-Bustan Rotana Hotel, Qatar Airways Senior Manager Marketing and Communications Salam Al Shawa picked up the top airline award to add to the company’s illustrious string of accolades.
The awards night, attended by representatives of the region’s travel trade, is one of the most prestigious in the travel industry calendar.
On a night of celebration, Qatar Airways’ subsidiary Qatar Duty Free also picked up a Gold Award for its outstanding achievements in running the duty free operation at Doha International Airport. Qatar Duty Free Assistant General Manager Krishna Kumari collected the award on behalf of the company.
Qatar Airways Chief Executive Officer Akbar Al Baker expressed delight on the latest awards, saying the airline was making a significant impact in the aviation industry to be recognised as the best in the region.
“It is indeed a great honour to pick up yet another award,” he said.
“This is a tribute to the determination and commitment by our staff to make Qatar Airways the best among an illustrious list of airlines in the region.
“Qatar Airways is a dynamic airline and one of the youngest in the region. To be recognised for these achievements is not only a compliment to Qatar Airways, but to my country, the State of Qatar.”
Added Al Baker: “We at Qatar Airways are truly making waves internationally, putting both the airline and country on the global map. The latest award reflects the emphasis Qatar Airways places on service and attention to detail which, as we all know, are vitally important to woo new passengers and retain the loyalty of our existing customers.”
This summer, passengers will enjoy a brand new experience with Qatar Airways as it rolls out its new Airbus A340-600 aircraft. As launch customer of the High Gross Weight version of the A340-600, Qatar Airways will provide passengers travelling in the premium cabins with dedicated onboard First Class and Business Class lounges making the non-stop journey from Doha to Europe and the United States an experience of a lifetime.
The latest award also reflects the progressive move of Qatar Airways from a small regional airline at the time of its relaunch in 1997, to a truly global carrier now serving 70 destinations worldwide with a modern fleet of 47 all-Airbus aircraft.
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