Qatar Airways at Farnborough airshow

BY A CORRESPONDENT
July 24, 2006

Qatar Airways participated at the Farnborough Air Show in southern England with its own dedicated chalet at one of the world’s leading aerospace industry events. The Doha-based airline is the only carrier exhibiting at this year’s show.

Professionals from the worldwide aerospace industry gathered at the week-long event, which will also attract aviation enthusiasts and members of the public.

Static displays of military and civilian aircraft were a key feature of the show, aside from the usual business-to-business meetings between airlines and manufacturers from around the world of commercial aircraft, military jets, helicopters and engines.

Qatar Airways Chief Executive Officer Akbar Al Baker headed a delegation from the airline’s headquarters in Doha to Farnborough, where the airline had a luxurious chalet to showcase its award-winning Five Star hospitality.

Al Baker said: “Farnborough Air Show is one of the key events on the aerospace industry calendar where we are able to meet aircraft manufacturers and look to the future for our aircraft needs. "

Qatar Airways’ chalet featured a reception, lounge, dining and private meeting areas. There was a large complement of Qatar Airways cabin crew present and the airline will be highlighting its new-look premium cabin inflight service, which has been gradually introduced on long-haul flights to destinations such as London Heathrow, London Gatwick, Paris, Osaka and Hong Kong.

Qatar Airways is one of the world’s fastest growing airlines and recognised among an elite group of only four airlines with a Five Star ranking for service and excellence awarded by Skytrax, the independent aviation industry monitoring agency.

With a fleet of 47 all-Airbus aircraft, Qatar Airways operates to 70 destinations worldwide from its operational hub of Doha, capital of the State of Qatar.

Akbar Al Baker has been instrumental in turning around the airline’s fortunes, relaunching it in 1997 from a small regional carrier to a fully-fledged international operation. He has earned huge recognition for his work, including being named Airline Personality of the Year at the World Travel Awards in 2005 and guiding the company to become Airline of the Year at the recent Middle East and North Africa (MENA) annual awards.

The State of Qatar is focused on developing Qatar as a key aviation hub in the Middle East over the next few years. The opening of the New Doha International Airport in 2009 is one step towards achieving the goal.