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Qatar Airways named airline of the year amid blockade

PARIS, France, June 21 – Qatar Airways has been named the airline of the year in the 2017 Skytrax World Airline Awards held at the Paris Air Show.  

The award, which is now the fourth time Qatar Airways is winning it, comes in the backdrop of a dicey embargo and no-fly ban slapped on the gulf nation by Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, UAE and Egypt.

In addition to being voted Best Airline by travellers from around the world, Qatar’s national carrier also won other major awards at the ceremony, including Best Airline in the Middle East, World’s Best Business Class and World’s Best First Class Airline Lounge.

Qatar Airways’ home and hub, Hamad International Airport, has also been rated five-star by Skytrax, one of only five in the world to be given this recognition.

“For Qatar Airways to be named the World’s Best Airline particularly at this critical point in time, is a significant testimony of our passengers’ belief and trust in our unwavering commitment to deliver only the best,” said Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, His Excellency Mr. Akbar Al Baker.

Al Baker termed the ban on flights as ‘bullying’ adding that the awards is an endorsement not to the airline, but to the country.

Qatar Airways’ patented new seat design has itself already gained industry notoriety after receiving the Best Airline Innovation of the Year award at the 2017 ULTRAS (Ultimate Luxury Travel Related Awards) for its launch of Qsuite.

Qatar Airways recently added Dublin, Republic of Ireland, to its global route network, soon to be followed by Nice, France; Skopje, Republic of Macedonia and Chang Mai, Thailand. The airline operates a modern fleet of 200 aircraft to a network of key business and leisure destinations across Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia Pacific, North America and South America.

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