01/09/09, 02:27:24 UTC

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Qatar Airways Sweeps Airline Awards

koreatimes.co.kr

Qatar Airways has emerged as the top quality airline in the Middle East, and in the world.

The Doha-based carrier's quality facilities and services have been recognized in recent years, including the Skytrax awards this year.

In this year's World Airline Awards, the carrier won three awards including Best First Class in the world. The awards given by Skytrax, an independent aviation industry monitoring agency, is based on an annual survey of about 15 million international travelers from 90 countries.

According to Skytrax chief executive Edward Plaisted, the 2007 survey was the longest and biggest ever with the most number of respondents.

Besides being recognized as having the best first class in the world, Qatar Airways was named Best Airline in the Middle East for the second time. Its cabin crew was also honored as the Best Cabin Staff in the Middle East for the fifth consecutive year.

The carrier's global ranking also rose ¯ it was included in the top five airlines in the world, standing fourth.

Earlier this year, Qatar Airways was also given a Five Star award by Skytrax for excellence and service quality. Only five carriers in the world have been selected in the five-star level.

Qatar's first class facilities include a 180-degree flat bed on its long-range A330s and A340s. Its A340s also feature a unique first class lounge where passengers can relax at 35,000 feet.

In November last year, the carrier opened the world's first passenger building for first and business class passengers at Doha International Airport. The premium terminal has exclusive check-in, duty free shopping, dining, spa treatments, a game room, business center and medical room.

The cabin crew of the airline have satisfied Skytrax's various criteria, including professionalism in handling passengers, efficiency, problem-solving, enthusiasm, friendliness and appearance.

``All round excellence is the most accurate description of a good first class service, and with customers paying very high fares for this privilege, airlines know that to retain loyalty they have to exceed every level of expectation of creating the feel-good factor and making the customer feel special,'' Plaisted said.

``This year we have seen a jump into the top spot by Qatar Airways and this is clear recognition of their new premium terminal facilities at the home base airport in Doha, geared totally toward premium customers,'' he said.

The carrier operates a fleet of 58 aircraft to 79 destinations across Europe, Middle East, Africa, the Indian subcontinent, the Far East and America. It will have 110 aircraft by 2015, with A350s, B777s, and A380 twin-deck super jumbos.

In Korea, it has added one flight to its previous four flights per week on the Seoul-Doha route last Friday.

 Printable Version  | published Nov 08, 2007