Qatar Airways bags 3 Skytrax awards

Mumbai, Aug 1: Doha-based Middle-East carrier, Qatar Airways, has won three awards, 'Best First Class In The World,' 'Best Airline In Middle East' and 'Best Cabin Crew In Middle East,' at the annual Skytrax World Airline Awards ceremony.

The carrier won the ''Best Airline in the Middle East'' award for the second year running, while the cabin crew once again won top honours as Best in the Middle East for the fifth consecutive year, a company release said here today.

Qatar Airways also saw its global ranking rise to figure among the top five airlines in the world in the annual survey of almost 15 million international travellers, spread across 90 nationalities.

The Airline's global ranking also rose to the fourth position. The elite top five group features airlines from the service-oriented Far East.

''We have come a long way since we launched our airline just 10 years ago and these awards clearly demonstrate that Qatar Airways is firmly in the top league of international airlines,'' Airline's Chief Executive Officer Akbar Al Baker said in a statement.

Qatar Airways' First Class product includes a 180-degree flat bed onboard its long-range Airbus A330s and A340s, while the latter aircraft also features a unique First Class lounge for passengers to relax and unwind at 35,000 feet.

The award for cabin crew was based on a number of parameters, including professionalism of staff in handling passengers, efficiency, problem-solving, enthusiasm, friendliness and appearance.

The Airline operates a modern fleet of 58 all-Airbus aircraft to 78 destinations across Europe, West Asia, Africa, Indian subcontinent, Far East and America from its Doha hub.

Qatar Airways also enjoys the distinction of being among the only five airlines in the world with a Five-Star ranking for service and excellence awarded by Skytrax, the independent aviation industry monitoring agency.

The airline, which carried over eight million passengers across the globe during the last financial year, plans to expand its fleet to 110 aircraft by 2015, almost double the existing size.

Qatar Airways has also ordered 80 Airbus A350s worth 16 billion dollars, and 22 Boeing 777s, with deliveries of the latter beginning 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.

UNI