Category: Qatar Airways

Qatar Airways holds Oneworld Operations Control Conference

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Qatar Airways was pleased to host the first ever oneworld Operations Control Conference in Doha, Qatar, on March 11 and 12, 2015.

Held in the airline’s state-of-the-art Operations Control Centre, the conference was attended by representatives from a majority of the oneworld airlines, with airberlin, American Airlines, Cathay Pacific, Finnair, Iberia, Japan Airlines, Malaysia Airlines, Qantas, Royal Jordanian, SriLankan Airlines and US Airways all present. Also joining the delegates on the second day of the conference were members of the oneworld Executive team.

The meeting provided a forum in which airport operations professionals could further develop their relationships and synergies with their peers, share their professional experience, gain knowledge, learn best-practices and implement measures in driving costs down, and efficiencies up.

Between them, the small-knit oneworld alliance airline operations teams manage more than 14,250 flights a day across a combined fleet of some 3,500 aircraft, carrying 1.4 million passengers a day to more than 1,000 destinations in more than 150 countries.

Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, His Excellency Mr. Akbar Al Baker, welcomed the delegates to the conference on day one of the meeting. “Qatar Airways, as both an airline and oneworld partner is extremely honoured to host the first ever oneworld Operations Control Conference. As part of the oneworld alliance, it is important for us to contribute as much as we can in all areas of our business, including operations, which is the backbone of all airlines,” said Mr. Al Baker.

“By coming together with our oneworld partners, we are giving our respective teams, and the individuals who are specialists in this area the opportunity to share their tremendous experience and best practices in operations. And this type of information exchange will benefit, not just our business, but just as importantly, our passengers in the long run.”

During the two-day conference the oneworld representatives discussed a wide range of topics related to the day-to-day management of their respective airlines including operations control structures and stakeholders, introduction of new fleet types, airline security and disruption recovery.

On-time performance was also a key discussion point as Iberia, Japan Airlines, airberlin and LAN Airlines are among the top 10 most punctual airlines worldwide. Additionally, Qatar Airways has achieved best on-time performance among the major Gulf carriers and Finnair is currently number one in Europe. The dedication and hard work of all the teams has resulted in oneworld receiving the FlightStats On-Time Performance award as the alliance with member airlines collectively achieving the best punctuality in both 2012 and 2014, the only two years the award has been presented.

Qatar Airways Chief Operations Officer, Captain Helmut Weixler, said: “The opportunity to spend two days with our industry peers, discussing, analysing, as well as increasing and developing our communication and support for one another has been invaluable. It is our hope that each of the participants walked away from this conference feeling that they had the opportunity to contribute, as well as the opportunity to learn something new.”

Qatar Airways and QDF Congratulate Lucie Safrova

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Lucie Safrova celebrates winning the Qatar Total Open 2015

Qatar Airways, the official airline sponsor, and Qatar Duty Free (QDF), the official retail sponsor of the Qatar Total Open 2015, congratulate Lucie Safarova, winner of the annual women’s international tennis tournament held at Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex.

The Qatar Total Open 2015 is part of the ATP World Tour – and every year attracts thousands of spectators to watch as world-class players compete for the prestigious title in the Qatari capital.

This year, top 10 world-ranked women’s tennis players including number five seed Ekaterina Makarova, number six seed Andrea Petkovic and number nine seed Carla Suárez Navarro competed in the 2015 tournament, which culminated in an exciting final between Safarova and Victoria Azarenka – a former world number one. As the biggest win of her career so far, this title will elevate the world number 15 seed Lucie Safarova to number 11.

As part of Qatar Airways’ sponsorship, this year the airline invited spectators to visit its pavilion at the event where they were offered the opportunity to have their photograph taken against a choice of backdrops (the Doha skyline, the Airbus A350 XWB or the Airbus A380) and then given a print of the photograph as a gift from the five-star airline.

Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, His Excellency Mr. Akbar Al Baker said: “Qatar Airways congratulates Lucie Safarova on her win at the Qatar Total Open 2015 and we look forward to welcoming her back to Doha next year to defend her title at this prestigious sporting event.”

During the tournament, Qatar Duty Free invited spectators to visit its dedicated pavilion and collect a 10% discount voucher, which they can redeem against their purchases the next time they shop at Qatar Duty Free in Hamad International Airport.

“Qatar Duty Free was delighted to be the official retail sponsor of the Qatar Total Open 2015. We look forward to welcoming all the spectators, who came to our pavilion and collected their 10% discount voucher during the tournament, at our Duty Free shops in Hamad International Airport the next time they travel,” said Qatar Duty Free Senior Vice President, Keith Hunter.

Qatar Airways Deepens Its Code-Share Agreement with Bangkok Airways

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Qatar Airways has strengthened its relationship with Bangkok Airways with the addition of further code-share routes.

The new code-shares come after a year of rapid expansion for Qatar Airways across the globe, with the addition of 12 new destinations throughout the course of 2014, together with frequency and capacity increases across the network.

Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, His Excellency Mr. Akbar Al Baker, said: “It has been a period of rapid expansion for Qatar Airways, with new route launches around the globe. The addition of these code-share routes with Bangkok Airways further enhances our competitive offering, while providing our passengers with an unrivalled global network among the world’s leading airlines.”

The expansion of this agreement with Bangkok Airways will enhance Qatar Airways’ passengers’ options as it adds 10 additional sectors from Bangkok to Chiang Rai, Udon Thani, Luang Prabang, Vientiane, Nay Pyi Taw and Siem Reap, together with Koh Samui to Singapore, Phuket and Kuala Lumpur and Phuket to Chiang Mai.

This will both strengthen and complement Qatar Airways’ current code-shares from Bangkok to Chiang Mai, Phuket, Krabi, Lampang, Trat, Sukhothai, Samui, Mandalay, Yangon and Phnom Penh.

Those passengers travelling onto code-share destinations from Bangkok will also benefit from a superior travel experience on board Qatar Airways’ A380 aircraft, which commenced service to the city in December last year. Complementing the airline’s four-times daily service to Bangkok, this aircraft allows passengers the opportunity to experience the latest aircraft to join the Qatar Airways’ fleet.

Meanwhile, those travelling onwards from Phuket, will also benefit from the airline’s direct daily scheduled service from Doha, which commenced in 2014. The route was previously served from Doha via Kuala Lumpur.

Qatar Airways has seen rapid growth in just 18 years of operation, to the point where today it is flying a modern fleet of 147 aircraft to 146 key business and leisure destinations across Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia Pacific, North America and South America.

Qatar Airways and Aspire Academy Partner to turn Football Dream into Reality

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As the whistle blows indicating the end of the football match, 35 young boys run and jump, full of energy and adrenaline, celebrating not just their stellar performance on the pitch, but also, being one step closer to turning their dreams into reality. This year, Qatar Airways is proud to have partnered with Aspire Academy’s Aspire Football Dreams programme, and were on hand to welcome the youngsters as they arrived at Aspire Academy in Senegal for their final assessment in hopes of getting one step closer to a career in professional football.

Aspire Football Dreams coaches, staff and more than 4,000 volunteers, assessed 400,000 13-year-old football players, at approximately 650 football fields, in 14 countries over the last year. Those selected to enter the Academy this year, will form the Qatar Airways & Aspire Academy – Football Dreams Africa team, and will be flown to Barcelona to play against FC Barcelona’s youth team, courtesy of the airline.

Launched in 2007, Aspire Football Dreams provides young football players from developing countries with the opportunity to reach the heights of international football through training and development at their Academy located in Senegal. Each year, the programme selects up to 20 13-year-old boys who go through a rigorous assessment process in the hopes of being selected to attend the Academy where they train, compete, study and learn to manage their lives and careers successfully, with the goal of one day playing for a professional club or their respective national teams. Having already tested two million football players since the beginning of the programme eight years ago, Aspire Football Dreams is the largest-ever talent search in football.

Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, His Excellency Mr. Akbar Al Baker, said: “Qatar Airways is extremely proud to be partnering with Aspire Football Dreams in Africa, a programme that not only encourages sport, which is in line with the Qatar National Vision 2030, but that also provides a life-changing opportunity for youth that are willing to work hard to nurture and develop their natural talents. We are pleased to be able to fly the Qatar Airways & Aspire Academy – Football Dreams Africa team to Barcelona to participate in a friendly match between the FC Barcelona youth team, and wish both teams the best of luck.”

“The game in Barcelona is going to be a great experience for these youngsters, a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. We are delighted and proud that Qatar Airways partners up with us in this unique initiative. Giving young people in Africa the chance to fulfill their potential and pursue their dream of playing football on the world stage is an important objective for ASPIRE. They will grow as individuals through this special project,” said Ivan Bravo, Director General of Aspire Academy, on the upcoming game in Barcelona.

After flying in from all over the African continent to Senegal, the boys met with their new teammates and spent the week training before taking to the pitch in two matches against Spanish youth team, RCD Espanyol. Coaches had the opportunity to assess each of the players on the field as they worked together to defeat RCD Espanyol 1-0 in the first match, and held them off during the final match, walking off the field nil-nil.

For those chosen as a member of the Qatar Airways & Aspire Academy – Football Dreams Africa team, it is more than just playing a game they love, it is a life-changing opportunity. With the majority of boys coming from disadvantaged areas, many train specifically for the Aspire Football Dreams annual try-outs in the hopes that their talent on the pitch will be recognised by one of the scouts. By actively searching for football talent in towns and villages, Aspire Football Dreams are finding plenty of football talent in Africa’s large untapped pool of skilled players.

Results of the Aspire Football Dreams programme have already been made evident with a number of graduating students being signed to professional teams in Europe, including Diawandou Diagne, who signed with FC Barcelona B team this past July.

Qatar Airways and Qatar Duty Free Announce Sponsorship of the Qatar Total Open Women’s Tennis

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World number three Simona Halep will return to Doha to defend her 2014 title at this year’s Qatar Total Open

Qatar Airways and Qatar Duty Free (QDF) have announced their sponsorship of the 2015 Qatar Total Open women’s tennis tournament, which will take place from February 21 to February 28, 2015, at Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex in Doha, Qatar.

This year’s championship will see the 2014 winner and world number three, Simona Halep defend her title against other top 10 world-ranked players including the current Wimbledon champion and world number four Petra Kvitova, Poland’s Agnieszka Radwanska who is ranked world number six, and world number eight Caroline Wozniacki. Seven-time grand slam winner Venus Williams will also compete in this year’s tournament.

As part of the Qatar Airways sponsorship, this year the airline is inviting spectators to visit its pavilion at the event where they are being offered the opportunity to have their photograph taken against a choice of backdrops (the Doha skyline, the state-of-the-art Airbus A350 XWB or the bespoke Airbus A380) and then be given a print of the photograph as a gift from the five-star airline.

Qatar Duty Free to offer visitors a 10% discount voucher to redeem on their purchases at Hamad International Airport

In the run up to the tournament, Qatar Airways also ran a Facebook competition to win two return tickets from a Qatar Airways gateway city to Doha, two tickets for the semi-finals and final of the tournament and hotel accommodation at Oryx Rotana. The lucky winner was announced on: www.facebook.com/qatarairways.

Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, His Excellency Mr. Akbar Al Baker said: “Qatar Airways is proud to continue in its role as the airline sponsor for this internationally recognised sporting event, bringing these world-class players to Qatar for another season of thrilling tennis. As the event continues to grow every year, we are delighted to continue our support, and enable tennis fans to enjoy this great sporting spectacle here in Doha, which has become a global hub for international sport.”
During the tournament, Qatar Duty Free will showcase its portfolio of global luxury brands at a dedicated pavilion located in the public village where visitors can drop in and collect a 10% discount voucher, which they can redeem against their purchases the next time they shop at Qatar Duty Free in Hamad International Airport.

“Qatar Duty Free is very excited to be a sponsor of this prestigious sporting event again this year,” said Qatar Duty Free Senior Vice President, Keith Hunter. “This world-class tournament always brings in tennis fans from all over the world, and is a highlight on the Qatar Duty Free annual calendar of events. We are delighted to provide visitors to the tournament with a unique opportunity to collect an exclusive 10% discount voucher, which they can redeem next time they shop at Qatar Duty Free in Hamad International Airport,” he added.

At Hamad International Airport, QDF offers 40,000 square metres of combined retail, food and beverage facilities, establishing the retailer as a premier shopping and dining destination. With more than 70 retail outlets offering an unprecedented selection of designer labels such as Bulgari, Chanel, Giorgio Armani and Hugo Boss, Qatar Duty Free at HIA caters to all passengers’ tastes. In addition, more than 30 cafés and restaurants offer a sumptuous selection of global and local cuisine.