Dubai, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES – Qatar Airways has claimed yet further key international awards, winning three accolades at two glittering award ceremonies in Dubai.

The Doha-based carrier retained its Leading Business Class Airline in the Middle East title as voted by travel industry professionals in the prestigious World Travel Awards, an honour that the airline has now held for five consecutive years.

The airline’s innovative exclusive Premium Terminal for First and Business Class passengers at Doha International Airport was named Leading Airport Lounge in the Middle East. The two awards were presented at a ceremony held at The Address in Dubai Marina where acclaimed international singer Nancy Ajram was the star performer of the night.

At a separate ceremony organised by Business Traveller Middle East for travel industry professionals held at the Jumeirah Emirates Towers Hotel, Qatar Airways took home the airline award for Best Economy Class in the Middle East for the second year running.

Readers of the monthly magazine based their voting on cabin comfort and inflight service. The airline, which offers superior space with an Economy seat pitch of up to 34 inches – above the industry norm – recently began introducing seat back entertainment across its cabins on the new Airbus A320 family of aircraft.

The British Embassy Consul General in Dubai Guy Warrington presented the evening’s awards and the latest accolades demonstrate Qatar Airways’ commitment to offering the travelling public with unrivalled levels of inflight service.

Qatar Airways Chief Executive Officer Akbar Al Baker said: “Most airlines invest heavily in developing their premium cabins and, while we continue to do this, Qatar Airways strives to innovate in Economy Class ensuring our high standards are maintained and passenger expectations are exceeded worldwide.”

The awards coincided with Arabian Travel Market – the Middle East’s premier travel trade event – taking place in Dubai where Qatar Airways is participating with a prominent exhibition stand.

More than 400 leading figures from across the regional and international travel and tourism industry attended both events.
Al Baker added: “Winning the Leading Business Class category five years in a row and Leading Airport Lounge once again proves that we have an outstanding product, which continues to convince travel industry professionals and our customers year on year.”
“These are great achievements for the airline and show that we clearly deliver an ultimate inflight experience which our customers appreciate. Our exclusive Premium Terminal is the world’s only dedicated commercial passenger terminal for First and Business Class passengers – and winning again just four years after its opening reflects the importance we place on service delivery.
“Our passengers travelling in Economy also have an unrivalled experience and we are extremely delighted to have won over the travelling public for our high service standards in the Economy cabins.”
The World Travel Awards were conceived in 1993 to acknowledge and celebrate excellence in the world's travel and tourism industry. Now in their 17th year, travel professionals and discerning travellers have come to regard the World Travel Awards as the very best endorsement that a travel product can hope to receive.

Dubai-based Business Traveller Middle East is a prestigious monthly travel magazine, part of a global franchise of similar publications worldwide dedicated to frequent travellers.

Qatar Airways currently operates a modern fleet of 82 aircraft to 89 diverse cities across Europe, Middle East, Africa, Asia Pacific and North America. The airline has over 200 aircraft pending delivery with the orders worth more than US$40 billion.