Shanghai, CHINA – Qatar Airways, the Official Airline and Prestige Partner of the forthcoming 15th Asian Games taking place in Doha, has been named the Official Partner of the Chinese national team that will compete in the event.
At a packed press conference held in China’s commercial capital of Shanghai, Qatar Airways revealed it was flying more than 1,500 athletes, officials and media to Doha for the biggest-ever Asian Games and largest sporting event to take place in the State of Qatar.
China is sending the biggest delegation of any of the 45 competing nations to the Games, which is set to attract a total of 10,500 athletes and team officials for two weeks of sporting entertainment between December 1 – 15.
Qatar Airways has raised capacity through increased frequency and larger aircraft between Greater China – Shanghai, Beijing and Hong Kong – and Doha to meet demand during the peak travel period leading up to the Asian Games.
The airline currently operates 16 non-stop flights a week between Greater China and Qatar. Shanghai is served 5 times a week, Beijing has 4 weekly services and Hong Kong has seven flights a week.
Qatar Airways signed a US$10 million sponsorship agreement with the Doha Asian Games Organising Committee (DAGOC) last year as the Official Airline and Prestige Partner of the Games. As part of the agreement, Qatar Airways is able to leverage numerous marketing rights ahead of, and during, the Games.
Held at the Portman Ritz-Carlton Shanghai on the eve of China International Travel Mart (CITM) in Shanghai, the media were briefed on how Qatar and Qatar Airways were gearing up for the Asian Games.
The press conference was hosted by David Chiu, Qatar Airways’ Regional Marketing Manager Far East and Australasia, together with Area Managers China North and China South, Ajith Weerasekera and Ish Jalal, respectively, and Updesh Kapur, Senior Media Relations Officer Far East and Indian subcontinent.
Qatar Airways has already embarked on a global television and print campaign focusing on its partnership with the Asian Games and operates seven of its long-haul Airbus A330 aircraft in three different and distinct Asian Games colour schemes. These flying machines have been promoting the Asian Games in style across Asia and, indeed, around the world, to many of the carrier’s 70 international destinations for more than 12 months.
In addition, 10 Qatar Airways employees will proudly represent the company as Official Torchbearers by carrying the Asian Games Flame through the streets of Qatar at the end of the month, just days before the Opening Ceremony at Khalifa Stadium.
Held at the Portman Ritz-Carlton Shanghai on the eve of China International Travel Mart (CITM) in Shanghai, the media were briefed on how Qatar and Qatar Airways were gearing up for the Asian Games.
The press conference was hosted by David Chiu, Qatar Airways’ Regional Marketing Manager Far East and Australasia, together with Area Managers China North and China South, Ajith Weerasekera and Ish Jalal, respectively, and Updesh Kapur, Senior Media Relations Officer Far East and Indian subcontinent.
Qatar Airways has already embarked on a global television and print campaign focusing on its partnership with the Asian Games and operates seven of its long-haul Airbus A330 aircraft in three different and distinct Asian Games colour schemes. These flying machines have been promoting the Asian Games in style across Asia and, indeed, around the world, to many of the carrier’s 70 international destinations for more than 12 months.
In addition, 10 Qatar Airways employees will proudly represent the company as Official Torchbearers by carrying the Asian Games Flame through the streets of Qatar at the end of the month, just days before the Opening Ceremony at Khalifa Stadium.
Qatar Airways Chief Executive Officer Akbar Al Baker expressed delight that the airline was flying sporting talent from across Greater China to Doha and enable athletes, officials and the media to enjoy the carrier’s award-winning Five Star hospitality ahead of what promises to be an exciting two weeks of sporting entertainment.
“I am extremely pleased that Qatar Airways is backing such a high-profile event, which hundreds of millions of people from across the Asian continent and around the world will be able to watch live on television,” he said.
“Qatar will firmly be in the international spotlight and it is indeed a great pleasure and honour for Qatar Airways to be part of this exciting event, which will undoubtedly go down in history as the best-ever Asian Games.”
Qatar Airways operates a young and modern fleet of 51 all-Airbus aircraft to 70 destinations across Europe, Middle East, Africa, Indian subcontinent and Far East. It is one of only four airlines in the world with a Five Star ranking for service and excellence awarded by Skytrax, the independent aviation industry monitoring agency
Qatar Airways expands its international network in 2007 with the launch of non-stop scheduled flights between Doha and New York, Bali, Ho Chi Minh City, Dar Es Salaam and Lagos, together with two points in Northern and Eastern Europe.
“I am extremely pleased that Qatar Airways is backing such a high-profile event, which hundreds of millions of people from across the Asian continent and around the world will be able to watch live on television,” he said.
“Qatar will firmly be in the international spotlight and it is indeed a great pleasure and honour for Qatar Airways to be part of this exciting event, which will undoubtedly go down in history as the best-ever Asian Games.”
Qatar Airways operates a young and modern fleet of 51 all-Airbus aircraft to 70 destinations across Europe, Middle East, Africa, Indian subcontinent and Far East. It is one of only four airlines in the world with a Five Star ranking for service and excellence awarded by Skytrax, the independent aviation industry monitoring agency
Qatar Airways expands its international network in 2007 with the launch of non-stop scheduled flights between Doha and New York, Bali, Ho Chi Minh City, Dar Es Salaam and Lagos, together with two points in Northern and Eastern Europe.
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