Doha, QATAR – Qatar Airways, the Official Airline of the forthcoming 15th Asian Games in Doha, has embarked on a global TV campaign in addition to an international print campaign promoting the award-winning airline and the biggest ever sporting event to take place in the Middle East.
The TV commercial, being aired on CNN International, BBC World, Channel News Asia, Al Jazeera Sport, NDTV, New TV and India TV and a host of other international TV networks, show Qatar Airways in its prime, featuring newly-branded aircraft in Asian Games colours, together with sporting stars of today and tomorrow.
The Arabian Gulf State of Qatar will host the Asian Games from December 1 – 15, when more than 10,000 athletes from 45 countries across the Asian continent will converge on Doha, to compete for fame and glory. Tens of thousands of visitors from around the world are also expected to fly to Qatar to enjoy two weeks of sporting excellence. The commercial follows the path of athletes bidding for international glory on the starting line-up as Qatar Airways prepares for an exciting journey ahead. Showing glimpses of sporting venues and Qatar, the commercial guides viewers through the challenges of competitive action as the airline’s young aircraft heads off on its voyage, which finally takes it over the futuristic Khalifa Stadium – venue of many track and field events during the Games.
Qatar Airways announced 12 months ago its plans to officially sponsor the Games and, has since worked on numerous print, audio and broadcast marketing initiatives to promote the event.
There are currently seven long-haul Airbus A330 aircraft flying in three distinct colour schemes depicting the Asian Games. Three aircraft are painted in the distinct yellow and gold Asian Games colour scheme across the fuselage; three in blue with the Games mascot, ‘Orry the Oryx’ on the tail; and one in distinct red featuring an athlete and cyclist on the tail.
Each of the two-class aircraft, which feature Business and Economy cabins, fly to many of the Asian destinations served by Qatar Airways and feature prominently in the new TV commercials.
Qatar Airways Chief Executive Akbar Al Baker said: “Qatar is firmly gripped in Games fever with just weeks to go before the biggest sporting event to be staged in the country.”
“The Asian Games is already attracting significant interest from around the world and, during December, the international spotlight will be firmly on Qatar for two weeks of colour, noise and sporting entertainment.”
He added: “Qatar Airways, as the national airline of Qatar, is proud and honoured to be deeply involved in this historic event and we are delighted to be showcasing the country, the airline and the Games to the world through our extremely catchy new TV commercial which was filmed entirely in Doha.”
Qatar Airways currently flies to 12 Far East destinations – Osaka, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Beijing, Seoul, Manila, Cebu, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok, Yangon and Jakarta, together with a wide network of cities across the Indian subcontinent and Middle East, which will also send athletes to the forthcoming Asian Games.
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