Qatar Airways named World's Best Airline

FARNBOROUGH: Qatar Airways has once again triumphed at the annual Skytrax World Airline Awards, winning three top
accolades including the main award of World's Best Airline for the second year running, Qatar News Agency (QNA) reported.

The
Doha-based carrier retained the coveted title of Airline of the Year
2012 and notched up two further awards Best Airline in the Middle East
for the seventh consecutive year and the Best Airline Staff Service
award in the Middle East.

The winners were announced at an
awards ceremony attended by leading figures from the global aviation
industry at the Farnborough Air Show, the world's largest aerospace
event taking place in the UK this week.

Qatar Airways Chief
Executive Officer Akbar Al Baker hailed the achievements as "fantastic
recognition" of all employees at Qatar Airways for the dedication and
commitment to their job.

Speaking after receiving the awards, Al
Baker said: "I am extremely proud of the adulation given once again by
the very people who fly - the travelling public, for their support and
faith in Qatar Airways.

"Qatar Airways set out on a mission 15
years ago when we launched to be the world's best airline and spread
the airline s quality brand to all corners of the world.

"Last
year we achieved that. Retaining awards is always difficult, but we
have managed to do so amid the tough competition which only shows we
remain focused in our day to day job of offering passengers what they
fully deserve the highest standards of service both in the air and on
the ground.

"The achievements further reflect the high standards
that we set for ourselves and receiving the awards is fantastic
recognition of the hard work and commitment of our staff across the
world who help make Qatar Airways the success it is today."

Skytrax
Chief Executive Officer Edward Plaisted said: "To win the Airline of
the Year award for a second successive year is a remarkable achievement
for Qatar Airways, and a clear recognition of the continued efforts by
Qatar Airways management and staff to be the world's best airline.

"Qatar
Airways should be very proud of this fantastic customer recognition of
their service standards, and ranking No 1 in the world at the 2012
Airline of the Year shows that they truly are a favorite airline among
today's global travellers."

The Skytrax awards, conducted by the
global aviation research organisation, polled over 18 million business
and leisure air travellers from more than 100 countries.

Air
travellers were surveyed during a 10-month period by telephone,
questionnaires and online about their experiences with airlines on the
ground and in the air.

The survey measured passenger
satisfaction across more than 38 key performance indicators of airline
front-line product and service, including check-in, boarding, onboard
seat comfort, cabin cleanliness, food, beverages, in-flight
entertainment and staff service.

The survey covered more than 200 airlines, from the largest international airlines to smaller domestic carriers. -- BERNAMA