Re: Etihad Airways
Qatar Airways voted Mideast’s ‘Best Airline’
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Published: Thursday, 15 February, 2007, 08:41 AM Doha Time
Business Reporter
Readers of the US-based Global Traveler magazine have voted Qatar Airways as the “Best Airline in the Middle East”. The national carrier said it was a “fitting accolade in a year when it prepares to launch flights to America.”
The airline was awarded the honour after readers participated in the survey, which ran in the magazine over a seven-month period from February 2006 to August 2006.
Qatar Airways picked up the prestigious award at the Jumeirah Essex House in New York, where Francis X Gallagher, publisher and CEO of Global Traveler, honoured the airline at a gala ceremony.
This summer, Qatar Airways will enter the US market for the first time with scheduled flights between Doha and New York.
Qatar Airways chief executive officer Akbar al-Baker expressed his delight at the latest award in a market which the airline was preparing to enter this year.
“Considering that Qatar Airways has not yet even started flying to the United States, we are delighted to receive this highly prestigious award from readers of Global Traveler. I would like to thank the readers of Global Traveler for this wonderful award. It demonstrates that the American public is well travelled to all parts of the world and for a young and rapidly developing airline to be recognised as the Best in the Middle East is a wonderful recognition of our achievements.”
Qatar Airways is on a rapid expansion and plans eight more new destinations this year.
The non-stop flights to Dar-es-Salaam were launched on January 9. In the coming months the airline also plans to add Bali, Ho Chi Minh City, Chennai, Ahmedabad, Lagos and two cities in eastern and northern Europe.
With a growing international network, al-Baker said more travellers would have an opportunity to use Qatar Airways’ brand new Premium Terminal at Doha International Airport, exclusively for departing first and business class passengers.
Gallagher added: “Our readers have recognised Qatar Airways and other winners in the annual awards as the cream of the crop. I would like to congratulate all our winners for their achievements in the world of travel and the work they do that puts them a step ahead of the competition.”
