QATAR AIRWAYS BAGS YET MORE SKYTRAX AWARDS
The Worlds 5 Star Airline has just bagged two more awards from Skytrax over the weekend, one for their Oryx Rotana Airport Hotel, rated as the best in the Middle East, and another for their Premium Terminal at the Doha International Airport, rated as the best in the world.
The Skytrax award for best Premium Terminal came Qatar Airways way for the second year running, while the award for their airport hotel, the Oryx Rotana, is a first and astonishing for that matter, considering the hotel has only opened 2 years ago and is already globally rated as the 10th best in the world and best in the Middle East.
With their Premium Terminal award has QR beaten Lufthansas highly rated Senator Lounge at Frankfurt Airport into second place while Thai Airways First Class Lounge in Bangkok came a respectable third.
However, that said, when the new international mega airport in Doha opens its doors at the end of this year, a brand new, state of the art set of luxurious facilities will also open the doors for the airlines First and Business Class passengers, unprecedented in quality and the sheer range of facilities, including a dedicated duty free shop, a Spa which according to a source in Doha will be able to compete with any luxury Spa anywhere in the world first class dining options and business services for those passengers in transit in need to do some transactions while awaiting their onward flight.
Akbar Al Baker, CEO of Qatar Airways, received the news over the weekend and issued this media statement: Were extremely proud of our Premium Terminal, the first of its kind in the world to provide check-in, duty free, fine dining and transit services exclusively for our First and Business Class passengers. Our passengers always comment on how much they enjoy the experience of the Premium Terminal. It really is a one of its kind. Our focus on providing the best service to all our customers is what keeps us ahead of the rest and ensures we remain committed to delivering the ultimate in Five Star service both in the air and on the ground. After all, passengers entire journey experience starts at an airport and it is vitally important that airlines and airports deliver what passengers expect.
When announcing the two awards, Skytrax Chairman Edward Plaisted was reported to have said: We congratulate Doha International Airport and Qatar Airways on this fantastic achievement, winning the Best Premium Service Airport award. The Qatar Airways Premium Terminal remains a unique passenger facility worldwide, unmatched in terms of exclusivity and passenger amenities. With the New Doha International Airport due to open at the end of 2012, we will watch with interest to check that the quality of product and service remains at this award winning level. In a region where is seems there is a new luxury 5-star hotel opening each month, the Oryx Rotana Doha should be pleased with their success being named as the Best Airport Hotel in the Middle East. To deliver such exacting standards in one of the most competitive high end hotel markets is no small achievement, and the management and staff should be proud of their place as the jewel of Middle East airport hotels.
More to look forward to when taking the red carpet to the only 5 star service in the skies, soon from all key East African airport when besides the existing double daily service to Nairobi and Dar es Salaam and the daily flights to Entebbe and Kigali Qatar Airways will add Kilimanjaro, Zanzibar and Mombasa, combined with a third daily flight to Dar es Salaam. Watch this space for regular and breaking news from East Africas aviation industry.
