DOHA - Qatar Airways has won the 'Best Airline Award' for the second year running at the annual Middle East and North Africa (Mena) travel awards held in Dubai, an airline release said yesterday.
The award was picked up by Qatar Airways General Manager (Commercial) Ali Al Rais on behalf of the airline at a ceremony, held at the city's Al Bustan Rotana Hotel, which also saw the airline's subsidiary, Qatar Duty Free, win the 'Best (Platinum) Duty Free Operator Award' in the region.
The award was collected by Qatar Duty Free Deputy General Manager Krishna Kumari. Qatar Tourism Authority (QTA) received the region's 'Best Tourism Board Award'.
The awards night was attended by representatives covering the entire spectrum of the region's travel industry - airlines, hotels, car rental companies, travel agents and tour operators.
Qatar Airways Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and QTA Chairman Akbar Al Baker, said the best airline award was an added boost ahead of Qatar Airways' new flights to the US this summer.
"This award comes at an important time in our expansion, just weeks before we set foot in the United States with our inaugural flights to New York on June 28 and Washington DC on July 19," said Al Baker, who is also CEO of Qatar Duty Free.
"With Geneva and Stockholm also in the pipeline this year, awards like this only reinforce the message that Qatar Airways is becoming an airline of choice for passengers in the region and, indeed, around the world."
"I am delighted that Qatar Tourism Authority and Qatar Duty Free have again been recognised at this year's awards, which only goes to show that the tourism industry in Qatar is truly making a huge impact in the region."
© The Peninsula 2007
