Award-winning Qatar Airways boosted its tally of international honours by grabbing four key accolades…
Award-winning Qatar Airways boosted its tally of international honours by grabbing four key accolades at the 12th World Travel Awards during a ceremony in London.
Qatar Airways Chief Executive Officer Akbar Al Baker was honoured with the 2005 Airline Personality Of the Year Award. The airline also picked up awards for World’s Leading Flat Bed Seat, Best Inflight Meal Service and Leading Airline in the Middle East.
The Doha-based carrier added a fifth accolade at the opening of World Travel Market (WTM) in London by winning a World Travel Global Award.
As one of the youngest and fastest growing airlines, the achievements are seen as remarkable in the short few years since Qatar Airways’ relaunch in 1997 from a small regional carrier with a handful of routes to a global airline covering 66 destinations.
More than 500 guests representing the creme de la creme of the world’s travel industry – from hoteliers, airlines and cruise lines to tourist boards, travel agents and tour operators – attended the World Travel Awards ceremony at the Royal Opera House in central London.
The World Travel Global Award presented to Akbar Al Baker at WTM reflects the global recognition for Qatar Airways.
Al Baker has been instrumental in guiding Qatar Airways into a powerful airline in Middle East aviation and a leading global carrier since being appointed CEO in 1997. He has single-handedly shaped the airline into an award-winning regional and international carrier from its operational hub of Doha, capital of the State of Qatar.
He stressed that the achievements recognised the airline’s commitment to deliver the highest levels of passenger service.
“Qatar Airways has come a long way in its short history, and what an honour to be honoured by the world’s travel industry professionals,” said Al Baker.
“We have made huge strides in a highly competitive aviation world to become one of the best airlines in the skies today and, it is indeed a great privilege to find ourselves being honoured tonight in front of such distinguished guests from around the world.”
“This recognition clearly demonstrates our ability to prove to the global marketplace that Qatar Airways can successfully compete in the international arena and prove our standards are among the best in the world.”
He added: “On behalf of Qatar Airways, I can only say a ‘big thank you’ to our staff, our passengers and, of course, our key travel trade partners – travel agents around the world – for supporting us through our meteoric growth over the past few years.”
Theodore is the Co-Founder and Managing Editor of TravelDailyNews Media Network; his responsibilities include business development and planning for TravelDailyNews long-term opportunities.
