22 May 2010  - Hamburg, GERMANY – Qatar Airways has been named among the top three airlines in the world at the latest Skytrax World Airline Awards 2010.

The honour was among several awards that the airline collected at a ceremony in the northern German port city of Hamburg. Qatar Airways’ global ranking among more than 200 international airlines rose to number three in the world – up from fourth spot last year – further cementing its stature as a world leading airline.

Qatar Airways, which remains one of a select-few carriers with a Skytrax Five Star ranking, also claimed the World’s Best Business Class award in one of the most hotly contested categories. The airline’s Business Class catering was recognised separately as the best in the world.

The Doha-based carrier earned the title Best Airline in the Middle East for a fifth consecutive year, emphasising Qatar Airways’ competitiveness and dominance in a region boasting several world-class airlines.

Qatar Airways also became the first airline to receive the Staff Service Excellence Award for the Middle East. The new award replaces the Best Cabin Staff in the Middle East category, which Qatar Airways has won for the past seven years. The expanded category now includes airline staff at all passenger touch points, including onboard, reservations, check-in and airport personnel.

Qatar Airways Chief Executive Officer Akbar Al Baker said the awards were fantastic recognition for the continued dedication of the airline’s staff to consistently deliver the best service levels in the industry.

“It is extremely gratifying to be honoured with these achievements, which recognise the outstanding efforts of our employees in the air and on the ground, as we look to offer the highest levels of service and consistency across all levels of our operation,” said Al Baker.

“I have been saying for years that Qatar Airways’ Business Class rivals the First Class of many other airlines, and the World’s Best Business Class award is clear validation of that claim.

“To be considered among the top three airlines in the world is a huge achievement for Qatar Airways and takes us one step closer to our collective goal of being recognised at the best airline in the world. Clearly, we are heading in the right direction,” he added.

Qatar Airways Vice President Commercial Europe Paul Johannes was in Hamburg to collect the awards on behalf of the airline.

“It is with great pride that I am collecting a host of awards from one of the leading airline industry auditors – and this is clearly a high point in my career with the company,” said Johannes.

Skytrax Chief Executive Officer Edward Plaisted said Qatar Airways continued to impress with its high global standards.

“This has been an excellent year for Qatar Airways. Operating in one of the most competitive global markets for high quality airlines, winning the Best Airline Middle East title for 2010 is a worthy achievement, and continues their success in this category.

“Qatar Airways received the first ever Staff Service Excellence Award for the Middle East. This replaces the Best Cabin Staff category of earlier years, and represents a much wider achievement - this Service Excellence Award recognising airlines that deliver the highest standards of staff service not only onboard the flight, but also at the home base airport.

“The World Airline Awards are known as 'The Passenger's Choice', underlining the fact that Qatar Airways are clearly satisfying the hardest critics – their users," added Plaisted.
 
Almost 18 million air travellers from over 100 different nationalities took part in the 10-month long survey, between July 2009 and April 2010. The awards are recognised around the world for being the only global independent passenger survey monitoring airline standards.

Qatar Airways currently operates a modern fleet of 83 aircraft to 89 key business and leisure destinations across Europe, Middle East, Africa, Asia Pacific and North America.

Next month, Qatar Airways launches non-stop flights from Doha to Barcelona on June 7 and enters the South American market for the first time on June 24 with non-stop daily services between the Qatari capital and Sao Paulo in Brazil and the Argentinian capital of Buenos Aires.