uk.superbrands.com Superbrands UK Vol. 24 Market Part of the Qatar Airways Group of businesses, the airline has risen to the many challenges resulting from the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic over the course of the last 20 months. With the international travel industry one of the sectors hardest hit by the crisis, Qatar Airways has experienced extensive loss of traffic and revenues as part of a pattern seen across the global aviation industry. Despite these difficulties, Qatar Airways has continued to successfully rebuild its global network to more than 140 destinations in line with the re-opening of international travel and is the largest airline to have flown consistently through the pandemic, with its network never falling below 33 destinations. It is this strength, resilience and commitment which saw the national carrier of the State of Qatar named as the largest international carrier in the world between April and July 2020 by the International Air Transport Association (IATA) – with the airline accounting for 17.8% of global international passenger traffic in April 2020. Achievements As the largest global airline to have flown consistently throughout the pandemic, Qatar Airways has continued its enviable record of winning awards in recent months, earning the prestigious Skytrax Airline of the Year as well as five additional accolades, at the World Airline Awards for a record-breaking sixth time in September 2021. This is in addition to the airline’s home and hub, Hamad International Airport (HIA), recently being recognised as the Best Airport in the World 2021 by Skytrax in the World Airport Awards 2021. Qatar Airways’ achievements are not just limited to accolades and awards. Over the course of the last 20 months, the airline has not only consolidated its position of leadership in the recovery of the global aviation and travel sector. It has also played a significant role in the worldwide fight against Covid-19. By working closely with governments, civil aviation authorities and companies around the world, the airline continued to keep its passengers moving, operating more than 500 repatriation charters and taking home more than three million stranded passengers worldwide in 2020/21. This is in addition to its air freight division, Qatar Airways Cargo, transporting over 500,000 tonnes of medical equipment, PPE and aid around the world, as well as more than 20 million doses of Covid-19 vaccines to over 25 countries. However, it was Qatar Airways efforts in implementing the most robust and stringent safety and biosecurity in existence within the global aviation industry, which saw the airline being named as the first global airline in the world to achieve the prestigious 5-Star Covid-19 Airline Safety Rating by Skytrax. This was in addition to HIA becoming the first airport in the Middle East and Asia to be awarded the 5-Star Covid-19 Airport Safety Rating. History Qatar Airways commenced operations in 1994 as a small regional carrier, serving a handful of routes. Three years later Qatar Airways was re-launched and in 2006, Qatar Airways reached the milestone of having 50 aircraft. 2014 saw Hamad International Airport commence operations at a cost of US $15.5bn, with an initial capacity of 30 million passengers per year. The following year, Qatar Airways was named Airline of the Year at the annual Skytrax World Airline Awards for a third time. In 2018, Qatar Airways became the launch customer of the A350-1000 aircraft and in 2019, Qatar Airways was named Airline of the Year at the annual Skytrax World Airline Awards for the fifth time. Qatar Airways became the first global airline to be awarded a Skytrax 5-Star Covid-19 Airline Safety Rating in 2021. It was also named as Skytrax Airline of the Year and received five additional accolades at the World Airline Awards for a record-breaking sixth time.
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