Qatar Airways wins Skytrax World's Best Business Class award

Qatar Airways has received three honours at the annual Skytrax World's Airline Awards this year, including the World’s Best Business Class award.

At the Skytrax 2013 World Airline Awards held during the Paris Air Show at Le Bourget yesterday, Qatar Airways was awarded the World’s Best Business Class Lounge for the second consecutive year, and Best Airline Staff Service in the Middle East.

Emirates won the World's Best Airline award this year, with Qatar Airways in second place, followed by Singapore Airlines in third. Emirates also received the awards for Best Airline in the Middle East and the world's Best Airline Inflight Entertainment.

The World Airline Awards is a global benchmark of airline excellence. Skytrax is the only major passenger surveyor and monitor of airline standards, and is considered the ultimate testament for excellence in the airline industry. Travellers from over 160 countries take part each year in the world’s largest airline passenger satisfaction survey to decide the award winners.

Speaking after the awards ceremony, Qatar Airways Chief Executive Officer Akbar Al Baker said: “These awards are highly rewarding as they are judiciously voted by passengers – a true account of the overall experience felt by customers who have travelled with the airline.”

In 2010, Qatar Airways took home the Best Business Class In The World title for the first time, followed by the coveted Airline of the Year award in 2011 and 2012.

The airline’s exclusive Premium Terminal, dedicated to its First and Business Class passengers, opened in Doha International Airport in 2006. With excellent features, the terminal is the world’s first stand-alone airport facility dedicated to premium travellers.

Chief Executive Officer Akbar Al Baker commended the employees of Qatar Airways, stating that they were the true heroes behind the awards, with their dedication and commitment taking the airline to its winning status today.

Based in Doha, Qatar Airways is one of the fastest growing airlines in the world. Boasting 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.