The cargo carrier was also runner-up for ‘Global Air Cargo Brand of the Year’ and ‘International Cargo Airline of the Year in Africa’
DOHA, Qatar, 2019-Feb-26 — /Travel PR News/ — Qatar Airways Cargo is pleased to announce that it has been named ‘Global Air Cargo Airline of the Year’ by STAT Trade Times. The coveted award was given at this year’s ‘Air Cargo Africa’ air freight industry trade exhibition and conference, held in Johannesburg, South Africa from 19–21 February 2019. The cargo carrier was also runner-up for the ‘Global Air Cargo Brand of the Year’ and ‘International Cargo Airline of the Year in Africa’ awards.
Qatar Airways Cargo Senior Vice President, Cargo Sales and Network Planning, Mr. Peter Penseel, received the awards on behalf of the airline at a glittering awards ceremony organised by STAT Trade Times on 20 February at the Barnyard Theatre in Johannesburg. This is the second consecutive year that the cargo carrier has won the Global Cargo Airline of the Year award, following the ceremony that took place in 2017 at Air Cargo Africa. These awards recognise the carrier’s continuous drive and emphasis on innovation and delivering the highest levels of service within the air cargo industry.
Commenting on this remarkable achievement, Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, His Excellency Mr. Akbar Al Baker, said: “It gives us great honour and joy to receive these awards. Qatar Airways Cargo has come a long way to be ranked as one of the leading air cargo carriers globally. Being voted by the air freight community means a lot to us. It is for our global customers and employees that we strive to build our success upon the foundation of service excellence, always ensuring that our customers’ needs are of primary importance. Our business partners and dedicated team at Qatar Airways Cargo are the ones who have made this achievement possible, and we extend our special thanks to them.”
The biennial STAT Times awards event held during Air Cargo Africa celebrates excellence and achievement in the global air cargo industry. The awards in each category are decided after two rounds of online voting by readers of STAT Trade Times magazine.
Qatar Airways Cargo had a very successful 2018, with positive growth in both tonnage and revenue. The carrier’s cargo volumes increased by 10 per cent in 2018 over 2017. The carrier’s products have also performed exceptionally well, with positive tonnage growth and several enhancements introduced. It commenced transpacific freighter services direct from Macau to North America, and added belly-hold cargo capacity to several key destinations in its network. The carrier also received two brand new Boeing 777 freighters in 2018, and introduced two new destinations last month: Guadalajara, Mexico and Almaty, Kazakhstan.
Future plans include the construction of the carrier’s Cargo Terminal 2, which is already underway. Once complete, the terminal will increase annual cargo capacity at Qatar Airways’ hub in Doha to 3.2 million tonnes annually. The cargo carrier continues to seek new opportunities to invest and grow the business, benefitting not only its customers but the entire air cargo community.
Notes to Editors:
About Qatar Airways:
Qatar Airways, the national carrier of the State of Qatar, is celebrating more than 20 years of Going Places Together with travellers across its more than 160 business and leisure destinations on board a modern fleet of more than 230 aircraft. The world’s fastest-growing airline added a number of exciting destinations to its growing network including Gothenburg, Sweden; Da Nang, Vietnam; and Mombasa, Kenya in 2018, and several new destinations are due to be launched this year, including Malta, as well as many more.
A multiple award-winning airline, Qatar Airways was named ‘World’s Best Business Class’ by the 2018 World Airline Awards, managed by international air transport rating organisation Skytrax. It was also named ‘Best Airline in the Middle East’, ‘World’s Best First Class Airline Lounge’ and ‘Best Business Class Seat’, in recognition of its ground-breaking Business Class experience, Qsuite. Qatar Airways has been awarded the coveted “Skytrax Airline of the Year” title, which is recognised as the pinnacle of excellence in the airline industry, four times.
Qsuite, a patented Qatar Airways product, features the industry’s first-ever double bed in Business Class, as well as privacy panels that stow away, allowing passengers in adjoining seats to create their own private room, a first of its kind in the industry.
Qatar Airways was the first Gulf carrier to join global airline alliance oneworld, enabling its passengers to benefit from more than 1,000 airports in more than 150 countries, with 14,250 daily departures.
Oryx One, Qatar Airways’ in-flight entertainment system offers passengers up to 4,000 entertainment options from the latest blockbuster movies, TV box sets, music, games and much more. Passengers flying on Qatar Airways flights served by its B787, B777, A350, A380, A319 and select A320 and A330 aircraft can also stay in touch with their friends and family around the world by using the award-winning airline’s on-board Wi-Fi and GSM service.
Qatar Airways proudly supports a range of exciting international and local initiatives dedicated to enriching the global community that it serves. Qatar Airways, the official FIFA partner, is the official sponsor of many top-level sporting events, including the FIFA 2022 World Cup, reflecting the values of sports as a means of bringing people together, something at the core of the airline’s own brand message – Going Places Together.
Qatar Airways Cargo, one of the world’s leading international air cargo carriers, serves more than 60 freighter destinations worldwide via its world-class Doha hub and also delivers freight to more than 160 key business and leisure destinations globally on more than 200 aircraft. The Qatar Airways Cargo fleet includes two Boeing 747-8 freighters, 15 Boeing 777 freighters and eight Airbus A330 freighters.
For further information, please contact:
Qatar Airways Group, Corporate Communications Department
Tel: +974 4022 2200
Email: qrmedia@qatarairways.com.qa
Source: Qatar Airways