Qatar Airways to host 70th IATA annual conference next year

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has announced Qatar Airways as the host airline for their 70th Annual General Meeting (AGM) and World Transport Summit to be held in the Qatari capital Doha from 1st to 3rd June next year.

The announcement was made yesterday at the close of this year’s IATA AGM in Cape Town, South Africa.

A press statement released by the airline stated that Qatar Airways Chief Executive Officer Akbar Al Baker, who last year was voted onto the IATA Board of Governors, addressed the close of the Cape Town event after delegates were shown a glimpse of Qatar through a destination video.

“On behalf of Qatar Airways and my country the State of Qatar, bringing the IATA AGM to our capital city of Doha next year for the first time is a great honour,” said Akbar Al Baker at the event, attended by over 700 aviation leaders drawn from airlines, aircraft manufacturers, engine manufacturers and airports, currently in South Africa to discuss and debate key industry issues such as rising fuel prices, safety, environment and financial stability.

“After a long 17-year gap, IATA is finally returning to the Middle East for their conference and I promise we won’t disappoint in their choice to bring this annual gathering of ours to my country. This is in recognition of the city and country fast emerging as a successful global aviation hub.”

IATA Director General and CEO Tony Tyler said that Qatar is ideal for the 70th IATA AGM. He said that State of Qatar is the heart of the fast-growing and dynamic Middle East region and that the government understands the power of aviation to drive economic growth and development.

“And the country’s approach to aviation is a beacon for our industry. I am confident that its flagship airline Qatar Airways will host the world’s aviation community with the tremendous style and warm hospitality for which it has become famous.” Tony Tyler said.

Qatar Airways has been an IATA member since 1997. In 2004, it became the first airline to join the registry of the IATA Operational Safety Audit (IOSA) and has to date secured the audit consistently with 100 per cent compliance.

Inviting the aviation industry to enjoy the fine hospitality of Qatar Airways and the State of Qatar next year, Qatar Airways CEO Akbar Al Baker said that Qatar Airways and the State of Qatar works hand in hand to deliver their world-class facilities and amenities. He said that their airline is proud of their Arabic culture and that they look forward to spreading their tradition, generosity and warmth to all corners of the world.

“Qatar Airways continues to develop as a global network carrier and by next year, we will have significantly expanded our reach even further with our alliance membership of one world,” he said.

The Doha-based airline, one of the fastest growing in the world, has seen rapid growth in just 16 years of operations, currently flying a modern fleet of 124 aircraft to 128 key business and leisure destinations across Europe, Middle East, Africa, Asia Pacific and The Americas.

Qatar Airways has launched six new destinations this year. The airline now flies to Gassim (Saudi Arabia), Najaf (Iraq), Phnom Penh (Cambodia), Chicago (USA), Salalah (Oman) and Basra (Iraq). The airline states that their network will expand with the addition of further destinations over the next few weeks and months to include Sulaymaniyah, Iraq on the 20th of August, Chengdu, China on the 3rd of September, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia on the 18th of September, Clark International Airport, Philippines on the 28th of October and Philadelphia, USA on 2nd of April 2014.