DOHA Qatar – Qatar Airways, the world’s most popular airline, has added a new feather to its already bulging cap of accomplishments. Lately, AirlineRatings.com published its top 20 airline rankings, and Qatar Airways seized the top spot. Furthermore, the carrier also won the Airline of the Year and Best Business Class awards in the 2021 AirlineRatings Airline Excellence Awards.
Reputably, every award bestowed by AirlineRatings emerges from a rigorous evaluation process. The latter is conducted by industry experts with extensive knowledge and experience in the aviation industry. Resultantly, the ‘Airline of the Year’ award from AirlineRatings honors the finest in aviation, emphasizing product innovation, a well-connected route network, and overall safety.
“Airline Ratings Excellence Awards are aptly named, for, at every touchpoint, excellence is the goal at Qatar Airways led by its inspirational Group Chief Executive, His Excellency Mr. Akbar Al Baker,” says Mr. Geoffrey Thomas, the founder, and Editor-in-Chief of AirlineRatings.com.
Besides, this is not the first time the airline has secured the topmost place. Qatar Airways boasts several firsts in the industry. It is the first to pass IATA’s critical IOSA safety audit, the first airline to be thoroughly COVID audited and compliant by AirlineRatings and Skytrax, and among the first to try out IATA’s COVID Safe Travel Pass.
The top 20 airlines as per AirlineRatings
- Qatar Airways
- Air New Zealand
- Singapore Airlines
- Qantas, Emirates
- Cathay Pacific
- Virgin Atlantic
- United Airlines
- EVA Air
- British Airways
- Lufthansa
- ANA
- Finnair
- Japan Air Lines
- KLM
- Hawaiian Airlines
- Alaska Airlines
- Virgin Australia
- Delta Air Lines
- Etihad Airways
- Air Asia
Qatar Airways’ unmatched commitment to continuance
Undoubtedly, everyone is impressed by the airline’s unwavering passion, loyalty, and continued resolve to promptly adjust to the Covid – 19 conditions. And it is these attributes plus the airline’s world-class standard that earns it so much recognition. Most airlines were torn between following the Covid SOPs or managing costs. But Qatar Airways seamlessly improvised its operations and continued to offer unfaltering high-end services. Evidently, ceasing operations was never an option for this airline.
On this wonderful occasion, Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, His Excellency, Mr. Akbar Al Baker, says. “Over the past 16 months, the aviation industry has witnessed some of its darkest days. But Qatar Airways has continued to operate and stand by our passengers despite many other airlines halting operations due to the pandemic.”
He adds on “Qatar Airways continues to reach new heights and set industry standards that deliver unrivaled passenger experience because it is in our DNA to do everything with excellence. Our commitment is to provide the highest possible level of health and safety standards both on the ground and in the air, with 5-star service at the core of our business.”
Prior Achievements of Qatar Airways
Additionally, victory and awards are not new things to Qatar’s state-owned airline. In this year alone, the airline secured the following awards;
- Best Business Class (AirlineRatings)
- 5-Star COVID-19 Airline Safety Ratings (Skytrax)
- Best Catering (AirlineRatings)World’s Best Airline (eDreams)
- Best Middle East Airline (AirlineRatings)
- Diamond Standard (APEX)
And the list is exhaustive. Not a single year passed in which the airline did not scoop a slew of accolades in the past decade. These achievements are just the beginning, given their current rate of growth. Indeed this Middle Eastern airline is destined to achieve glorious breakthroughs in the near future.
A glimpse into their flights and fleets
Founded in 1993, the airline had very humble beginnings of 75 employees and just two airbuses. Qatar Airways evolved at a breakneck pace over the years. Today, it employees more than 43 000 people and flaunts a fleet size of around 250 aircraft. Remarkably, the fleet consists of 235 in-service passenger airbuses and about 13 executive planes. While many airlines discontinued operations, Qatar Airways surprisingly placed orders for 156 new aircraft. Currently, 150 worldwide destinations across Asia, Europe, Africa, the USA, and Oceania.
Their exceptional service delivery
However, it’s not just the size of their fleet that is spectacular. Services of the highest caliber and a steadfast pledge to innovation make for an exceptional tale to tell. Usually, many airlines solely focus on business and first-class services and neglect the economy class. But Qatar Airways goes against the norms and starts with outstanding economy-class services. Skytrax recognized it as the best economy-class in 2009 and 2010. The airline further plans to enable WiFi, GSM telephony, and USB port connectivity to enhance customer satisfaction.
Nonetheless, the airline’s business and first-class offerings are delightfully different from the average. The airline surpasses expectations, with foldable seats starring feather duvets to totally flatbed seats with direct aisle access and massage facilities. Recently, Qatar Airways debuted its magnificent Qsuite cabin. The doors in the cabin are positioned in a 1-2-1 pattern. And the middle section suites can change into a quad room, allowing four passengers to sit in a dining-room configuration.
“In our objective analysis Qatar Airways came out number one in many of our audit criteria, which is a great performance at this very difficult time,” Mr. Thomas praises the airline.
He further states, “For years, Qatar Airways has been the gold standard, and it just keeps getting better with new passenger innovations and new state-of-the-art aircraft models.”
On the whole, excellence is not confined to the west anymore. Qatar Airways, an up-and-coming airline, is a shining example of this. Qatar’s success in the airline industry indicates the country’s ability to become a worldwide leader in any field. No matter how small our beginnings are, being a global corporation is no longer a pipe dream.
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