Qatar Airways celebrates a year of success in 2019
«القطرية».. تحتفل بعام من النجاحات خلال 2019
For Qatar Airways, it was a successful year of strong network expansion, new aircraft deliveries and the unique achievement as the only airline to win the Skytrax Award for the World’s Best Airline for a fifth time.
Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, H E Akbar Al Baker, said: “2019 was another year of great achievement for Qatar Airways. There have been many highlights during the last 12 months, in particular receiving the highly prized ‘Best Airline
in the World’ award from Skytrax at this year’s Paris Air Show. To have won the accolade for a record fifth time for my country and our airline was a truly special moment.
“Our many achievements in 2019 are proof of one immutable fact that Qatar Airways will never deviate from our commitment to provide our millions of passengers with the very best onboard experience every time they travel with us.
Our growth over the last 12 months, in the face of adversity, has been impressive and going forward we will look to continue to prosper.
“As 2019 comes to an end, on behalf of our management and staff, I give our passengers our absolute guarantee that we will strive to continue to deliver the very highest standards of quality and excellence in the industry. I look forward to another year of success in 2020.”
The airline continued its strategy of investing in the world’s most technologically advanced aircraft to drive its ambitious route network growth. Through the course of the year, 32 aircraft were delivered to its Doha headquarters, including its 250th, an Airbus A350-900 in March. By the close of the year, the total combined fleet size of passenger, cargo and Qatar Executive (QE) was 259.
In January, the airline announced that it had converted 10 of its Airbus A321neo order to the A321LR, a longer range variant which will allow it to connect with new growing markets from Doha.
Continuing its proud record of being one of the world’s fastest-growing airlines, Qatar Airways launched a range of new destinations in 2019, namely: Davao, Philippines; Gaborone, Botswana; Izmir, Turkey; Langkawi, Malaysia; Lisbon, Portugal; Mogadishu, Somalia; Rabat, Morocco; and Valletta, Malta, increasing the carrier’s network to over 160 destinations.
The airline also added a host of new increased frequencies to dozens of destinations including Amman, Cape Town, Johannesburg, Kuwait, Larnaca, Manchester, Miami, Milan, Penang and Vienna. Such additions are designed to give more choice and flexibility for both business and leisure passengers as well as offering flexible cargo options.
In addition, the airline signed a number of new or extended codeshare agreements with world-class airline partners, including IndiGo Airlines, LATAM, China Southern, and SriLankan Airlines.
The portfolio and investment strategy of the Qatar Airways Group continued to progress and diversify in 2019. In January, the on-market purchase of certain A shares and H shares of China Southern Airlines Company Limited (“China Southern Airlines”) resulted in an aggregate holding of approximately 5 per cent of the total issued share capital.
A busy summer saw the airline commit to significant new orders for Boeing aircraft, Gulfstream Executive Jets and GE Engines, celebrated with a signing ceremony at the White House.
December heralded the announcement of an agreement with Republic of Rwanda to develop, invest and operate in a new international airport at a ceremony in Kigali. The airline will own 60 per cent of the new airport with the remainder being held by the Government of the Republic of Rwanda.
Cargo: Qatar Airways Cargo concluded a very successful 2019, taking delivery of six new Boeing 777 freighters and launching new freighter destinations Almaty, Guadalajara, and Singapore along with capacity increases to several destinations. The airline also added Hanoi and Singapore on its popular and high-demand transpacific route connecting Asia directly to the Americas.
Cargo capacity was also introduced to nine new belly-hold destinations, demonstrating the carrier’s commitment to its customers and the growing global trade. For the financial year 2018-19, Cargo revenue witnessed growth of 16.8 per cent with cargo capacity (Available Tonne Kilometres) growing 11.8 per cent annually. Qatar Airways Cargo also placed an order for five more Boeing 777 freighters at the Paris Air Show in June 2019.
The cargo carrier bagged the prestigious ‘Global Air Cargo Airline of the Year’ (STAT Trade Times) in 2019 and was also runner-up for the ‘Global Air Cargo Brand of the Year’ and ‘International Cargo Airline of the Year in Africa’ awards.
These awards recognise the carrier’s continued drive and emphasis on innovation, customer centricity, and service excellence.
In 2019, the airline added its multi award-winning, patented Business Class seat, Qsuite, to yet more high-profile routes including Auckland, Bangkok, Boston, Cape Town, Copenhagen, Dallas Fort Worth, Delhi, Johannesburg, Kuala Lumpur, Los Angeles, Milan, Montreal, and Tokyo Haneda. Passengers in these cities now have the opportunity to experience the airline’s renowned Business Class product, named ‘World’s Best Business Class Seat’ by the 2019World Airline Awards, managed by international air transport rating organisation Skytrax.
Corporate social responsibility: 2019 showed that Qatar Airways is at the very centre of the communities it serves and at the cutting edge of environmental responsibility, staff wellness and effective philanthropic giving. The airline celebrated five years of support for Educate A Child, a hugely important charity providing primary education to millions of out-of-school children.
In Amman, Jordan, Qatar Airways commemorated the opening of its new ward at the King Hussein Cancer Center (KHCC) with a special ceremony held under the patronage of HRH Prince Talal Bin Muhammad, Special Advisor to HM King Abdullah II.
The airline marked a number of international awareness campaigns during 2019, including Autism Month where it host a series of special events throughout April designed to raise awareness of the autism spectrum disorder.
Supporting top tier and grassroots sport is an essential part of Qatar Airways’ DNA. To complement the already impressive sponsorship agreements with the likes of Bayern Munich, AS Roma, Boca Juniors, Al Sadd and the Brooklyn Nets, 2019 saw the airline commit to deals designed to bring people together through sport.
As the Official Partner and Official Airline of FIFA, Qatar Airways was proud to bring football fans from around the world to France for the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup France.
In December, Doha hosted the FIFA Club World Cup, where as well as being the official airline, Qatar Airways brought tens of thousands of fans from all over the globe to witness European champions Liverpool FC win the trophy for the very first time.
Qatar’s national carrier continued its enviable record of winning awards with a host of accolades during the year. Along with the ‘World’s Best Airline’ prize – for a record fifth time – it also won ‘World’s Best Business Class’, ‘Best Business Class Seat’, and ‘Best Airline in the Middle East’ at the 2019 World Airline Awards, managed by international air transport rating organisation Skytrax.
The annual Trip Advisor awards gave more cause for celebration with the airline picking up five more prizes, namely the ‘World’s Best Business Class’ by Trip Advisor, ‘Middle East Best Airline’, ‘Middle East Best Major’, ‘Middle East Best Business Class’ and ‘Middle East Best Economy Class’.
In scooping further accolades from the Travel Trade Gazette (TTG), Kayak, LinkedIn, APEX, AirlineRatings, Business Traveller, PAX and Onboard Hospitality, the airline could point to more than 70 international awards received during 2019.
قالت الخطوط الجوية القطرية إنها تحتفل باختتام عام آخر من النجاح والازدهار، شهدت خلاله نمواً متواصلاً وتوسعاً في شبكة الوجهات، بالإضافة إلى استلام العديد من الطائرات الجديدة، والفوز بجائزة أفضل شركة طيران في العالم من «سكاي تراكس» للمرة الخامسة، لتصبح أول شركة طيران في العالم تحقق هذا الإنجاز.
قال سعادة السيد أكبر الباكر، الرئيس التنفيذي لمجموعة الخطوط الجوية القطرية: «لقد كان عام 2019 عاماً آخراً من الإنجازات الكبيرة للخطوط الجوية القطرية. ومن أبرز الإنجازات التي حققناها في الـ12 شهراً الماضية استلامنا جائزة أفضل شركة طيران في العالم من «سكاي تراكس» خلال فعاليات معرض باريس الجوي، في لحظة لا تنسى في تاريخ الناقلة، أصبحنا فيها شركة الطيران الوحيدة في العالم التي تحصد هذه الجائزة المرموقة خمس مرات».
وأضاف: «إن إنجازاتنا في عام 2019 تعتبر دليلاً جلياً على أننا لم نحد أبداً عن الالتزام بتقديم أفضل الخدمات للملايين من المسافرين معنا، بالرغم من التحديات التي واجهتنا، ونتطلع إلى الاستمرار بالنمو والازدهار في المستقبل».
أسطول طائرات متنامٍ
خلال العام الماضي، استلمت الناقلة 32 طائرة، بما في ذلك الطائرة رقم 250 في الأسطول، والتي كانت من طراز إيرباص A350-900 في شهر مارس. وبنهاية العام، أصبح مجموع طائرات الركاب والشحن والخاصة 259 طائرة.
نمو شبكة الوجهات
والشراكات
أطلقت «القطرية» رحلاتها إلى عدد من الوجهات الجديدة في عام 2019، ليزداد عدد الوجهات على شبكة وجهات الناقلة إلى أكثر من 160 وجهة في مختلف أنحاء العالم.
كما زادت الناقلة من عدد رحلاتها إلى العديد من وجهاتها الحالية.
استثمارات مستمرة
في شهر يناير، أنجزت «القطرية» اتفاقية شراء لأسهم من الفئة «A» والفئة «H» لشركة خطوط جنوب الصين الجوية المحدودة («خطوط جنوب الصين الجوية»)، والتي تنصّ على الاستحواذ على ما مجموعه 5.00 % تقريباً من إجمالي رأس المال المعلن عنه لخطوط جنوب الصين الجوية.
الشحن الجوي
اختتمت «القطرية للشحن الجوي» عاماً من النجاح والتطوّر في 2019، بعد أن استلمت 6 طائرات شحن جديدة من طراز بوينج 777، وأطلقت رحلاتها إلى ألماتي وغوادالاهارا وسنغافورة، وزادت من عدد رحلاتها إلى وجهات أخرى في هذا العام. كما أضافت الناقلة مدن هانوي وسنغافورة إلى خط رحلاتها فوق المحيط الهادئ، والذي يصل آسيا بالأميركتين مباشرة.
كما قدمت الناقلة خدمات إرسال البضائع جواً عبر المساحة المخصصة للشحن في طائرات الركاب إلى تسع وجهات جديدة، لتعكس بذلك التزامها تجاه مسافريها وتجاه قطاع التجارة العالمية المتنامية. وشهدت عائدات الشحن الجوي نمواً في العام المالي 2018-2019، بنسبة 16.8% مع زيادة سعة الشحن (الأطنان المتاحة لكل كيلومتر) بنسبة 11.8% على نحو سنوي.
وحصدت «القطرية للشحن الجوي» جائزة «أفضل شركة شحن جوي عالمية في العام» من مجلة «ستات تريد تايمز»، وحازت أيضاً على المركز الثاني لجائزة «أفضل علامة شحن جوي عالمية في العام»، والمركز الثاني لجائزة «أفضل شركة شحن جوي دولية في العام في إفريقيا».
الجوائز والإنجازات
استمرت «القطرية» بحصد المزيد من الجوائز خلال العام، حيث حازت على جائزة أفضل شركة طيران في العالم خلال حفل توزيع جوائز «سكاي تراكس» العالمية 2019. كما حصدت الناقلة جائزة أفضل شركة طيران في الشرق الأوسط، وجائزة أفضل درجة رجال أعمال في العالم، وجائزة أفضل مقعد على درجة رجال الأعمال عن مقاعد كيو سويت. وأصبحت الناقلة شركة الطيران الوحيدة التي تفوز بجائزة أفضل شركة طيران في العالم خمس مرات.
