Pattaya, THAILAND – Qatar Airways has scooped yet another top international honour at the annual TTG Asia travel awards by being named Best Airline in the Middle East and Africa.

Travel agents from across the Asia Pacific region voted for the best companies in different travel sectors – and Qatar Airways came up trumps with the key airline award, further recognising its huge impact in the global aviation industry in the short few years since its formation.

TTG is one of Asia’s most prestigious travel trade publications and this year’s ceremony, held in the Thai holiday resort of Pattaya, was attended by the crème de la crème of the global travel industry.

Mr Marwan Koleilat, Qatar Airways Senior Manager Commercial Operations Far East and Australasia, was presented with the airline’s award at the glittering awards ceremony.

Qatar Airways has made great strides in the aviation industry since its birth less than 10 years ago.

From just four aircraft at the time of Qatar Airways’ launch in 1997, the airline has today a fleet size of 50 planes with an international network spanning 70 destinations. Just two years ago Qatar Airways joined an elite club of airlines ranked Five Star by Skytrax, the independent aviation industry monitoring agency.

Of the four international airlines currently ranked Five Star by Skytrax, three are from the Far East – and Qatar Airways is privileged to join this special service-oriented grouping of carriers.

Qatar Airways Chief Executive Officer Mr Akbar Al Baker said he was delighted once again at seeing the sterling efforts of the airline being recognised by travel agents across Asia.

“No airline can make an impact without the full support of travel agents who are vital business partners that help promote airlines to consumers,” he said.

“Qatar Airways has worked extremely hard to get where it is today. I would personally like to thank our travel trade partners and our staff across Asia and indeed rest of the world for their enthusiasm and support in making Qatar Airways a well recognised brand, turning it into a highly reputed airline.”

He added: “Today more than one-third of Qatar Airways’ international network is spread across Asia which covers the Far East, Indian subcontinent and the Middle East. We are looking to extend our operations further in the region and expect to make a few key announcements over the next few months.

“Qatar Airways has made tremendous strides to be recognised for its high levels of service and excellence. Over the past few weeks, in the run up to the 15th Asian Games taking place in Doha, Qatar Airways has been aggressively marketing its brand and will be firmly in the public spotlight as the official airline of the event, which promises to be the biggest and best-ever in the history of the Games.”

Qatar Airways has embarked on a global TV campaign promoting the award-winning airline and the Asian Games and has launched a new international sponsorship strategy of the weather on leading television channels.