Qatar bags top three position

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 Hamburg last week as its global ranking among more than 200 international airlines rose to number three in the world – up from fourth spot last year.
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.

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.