DOHA: Qatar Airways (QA) has achieved a 20 percent growth in its fleet this year, along with other major achievements, the airline said yesterday.
Akbar Al Baker, Chief Executive, QA Group, said: “As 2015 comes to an end, QA is able to reflect on successes throughout the year, while celebrating the launch of our new global brand campaign and latest on board safety video.
“This has been a momentous way to end what has been a truly historic year for Qatar’s national carrier, which has seen, among others, several top award wins, the forging of new partnerships, strong engagement on social media, the launch of a brand new aircraft type and the start of several new routes on its passenger and cargo networks,” Al Baker added.
QA recently launched its new global brand campaign featuring the tagline ‘Going Places Together’ reflecting the essence of its core ambitious plan for next year — to strengthen its global reach by bringing people and places together.
The airline also created a buzz with its fresh and unique on board safety video featuring FC Barcelona’s La Liga players like Lionel Messi, Neymar, Luis Suarez, Gerard Pique, Ivan Rakitic and Javier Mascherano.
“The phenomenal response to our new global brand campaign and safety video has been overwhelming and has strengthened the strong bond QA has with its passengers,” said Salam Al Shawa, Senior Vice-President, Marketing & Corporate Communications, QA.
The airline started 2015 as the global launch customer of the A350, the latest in aircraft design by Airbus. With this, QA became the first in the world to operate every family of Airbus’ modern airliner portfolio, comprising the A320, A330, A340, A350 and A380.
During the year, QA added 29 aircraft to the fleet, increasing the number by 20 percent, reflecting the airline’s significant growth and expansion.
It also launched eight destinations this year — Abha, Amsterdam, Durban, Nagpur, Faisalabad, Multan, Sialkot and Zanzibar.
Responding to growing demand in its existing markets, the airline increased service to more than 30 of its destinations.
To support QA’s growth this year, the airline increased group employee numbers by 14 percent to a year-end total of more than 40,000 staff representing over 150 nationalities.
The Peninsula
