The multiple award-winning airline, Qatar Airways soared higher in 2022, bagging yet again the ‘Airline of the Year,’ and being named the ‘World’s Best Business Class’, ‘World’s Best Business Class Lounge Dining’ and ‘Best Airline in the Middle East’.
More than the accolades, Qatar Airways, Qatar Airways Cargo and Qatar Duty Free have solidified service excellence to the world.
Starting off in January, Qatar Airways Cargo was accredited CEIV Live Animals certification by IATA. It is the fourth airline worldwide to receive the accreditation and the first in the Middle East.
Also, it ordered up to 50 777-8 Freighters, expanding its commitment to the Boeing 777X family. Featuring advanced technology from the new 777X family and the proven performance of the market-leading 777 Freighter, the 777-8 Freighter will be the largest, longest-range and most capable twin-engine freighter in the industry.
It also signed order for GE9X Engines to Power Boeing 777-8 Freighters.
February marked celebrations of flights in different countries – it commemorated the 10 successful years of operating direct flights between Doha and Tbilisi, Georgia and Baku, Azerbaijan; and celebrated its 25-year anniversary of operating direct flights from Doha to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
More than the celebrations, during the said month, it resumed scheduled flights to Multan International Airport, Pakistan. The month of February was also memorable for the airlines as it successfully sealed participation at Fifth FIFA Club World Cup as Official Airline Partner.
A nostalgic flashback
Qatar Airways has unveiled a unique retro livery aircraft to celebrate 25 years of operation. The Boeing 777-300 aircraft was painted in the award-winning airline’s retro livery design as part celebrations.
Before February ended, Qatar Airways and Malaysia Airlines announced a new chapter in their long-standing relationship by signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). The new agreement will further facilitate a strategic cooperation that will see both airlines working closely together across multiple areas of the business to offer an unrivalled and range of value-added services to passengers.
Boosting its service to Nigeria, in March, Qatar Airways launched four weekly flights to Kano (KAN), and three weekly flights to Port Harcourt (PHC), both operating via the Nigerian capital, Abuja. Late March, Qatar Airways adopted Avios as the reward currency for all members worldwide.
It has also celebrated an important milestone in its history as it marked 25 years of services to the UK with a very special flight on March 30.
In April, Qatar Airways launched an inspiring new brand refresh campaign inviting people to ‘Let’s Fly’ as the world reopens and travellers once again take to the skies in search of new experiences and memories.
During the said month, it also reactivated strategic cooperation with IndiGo, India’s largest airline. As part of this expanded code-share agreement, Qatar Airways will be placing its marketing code on IndiGo operated flights between Doha and Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Chennai, Bengaluru, Kochi, and Kozhikode.
On its sustainability programme, Qatar Airways launched a voluntary carbon offset programme for corporate customers. This initiative will enable corporate and trade clients to offset their own carbon emissions via a dedicated web portal at any time before or after a flight.
Stepping into the world of Metaverse, the airlines in April entered the metaverse by launching QVerse, a novel virtual reality (VR) experience for visitors to the airline’s website.
In the month of May, Qatar Airways witnessed various developments: it participated at Arabian Travel Market in Dubai; unveiled a new strategic partnership with Virgin Australia that will significantly expand both airlines’ networks, lounges and loyalty programmes during the said travel market; unveiled enhanced strategic partnership with Malaysia Airlines, that will expand both airlines’ codeshare cooperation.
On to the lead-up to the World Cup, late May, it tied up with flydubai, Kuwait Airways, Oman Air and Saudia to connect match ticket holders to Doha via Match Day Shuttle flights for 24-hour experiences, during the tournament period.
It also announced that it would be the Presenting Sponsor for the 2022/23 Concacaf Nations League (CNL), a premier international football competition of men’s national teams from North America, Central America, and the Caribbean.
Come June, Qatar Airways launched flights to Santorini, Greece, joining Athens and Mykonos to become the third destination to be served in Greece by the national carrier of Qatar.
It also resumed its services to a number of countries: to the Namibian capital, Windhoek; and flights to London Gatwick Airport where it operates a daily service from Gatwick to Doha.
New Air Ionisation System
In June, Qatar Executive, the private jet charter division of Qatar Airways Group, announced the introduction of a new Air Ionisation System on its state-of-the-art G650ER aircraft. The active system is capable of eliminating potentially harmful pathogens and allergens, including bacteria, viruses, and mould spores.
The national carrier hosted the 78th International Air Transport Association (IATA) Annual General Meeting (AGM) and World Air Transport Summit in Doha, also in June.
Middle of June, Qatar Airways and GE Aviation joined forces to launch a customised training programme under the name ‘Leadership, Future and Culture’ (LFC).
And the middle of the year, it announced a record profit in its 25 year history of $1.54bn for the FY 2021-2022. This is 200 percent above its highest annual historical profit.
End of June, more agreements were inked: Qatar Airways and Airlink signed a comprehensive codeshare agreement; and the national carrier Qatar Airways takes Paris Saint-Germain partnership to new heights as the official front of shirt sponsor.
In July, it unveiled Platinum, Gold and Silver lounges at its award-winning hub, Hamad International Airport (HIA).
Qatar Airways also returned to Farnborough Airshow after record-breaking financial year as it prepares for FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022. Late July, it ramped up all-inclusive Qatar 2022 travel packages for fans to secure their place in world football’s biggest event.
Before July ended, Qatar Airways Group attained a new ISO Certification in Occupational Health and Safety Management System awarded by Bureau Veritas.
In August, Qatar Aviation Services (QAS), the subsidiary of Qatar Airways Group, announced its partnership with International Air Transport Association (IATA) to become the first ground handler globally to join the new expansion of the IATA Environmental Assessment Programme (IEnvA) for ground service providers.
More flight increase was made during the third quarter of the year.
From August, it increased its Berlin services to 11 weekly flights; resumed services to its fifth destination in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Qassim, with four weekly flights.
The month of August also saw a lot of partnerships: Qatar Airways and IRONMAN entered a long-term global partnership, making Qatar Airways the Official Airline Partner of the Global IRONMAN Series and IRONMAN 70.3 Series through the 2025 season; and launched all-inclusive travel packages for fans to attend any 2022-23 season home match live at the Parc des Princes stadium.
In September, it commenced a strategic partnership with Virgin Australia that significantly expands the networks, lounges and loyalty programs of both airlines, bringing substantial benefits and new destinations to travellers.
Come October, it increased its Doha–Melbourne flights from the current once-daily schedule to double-daily flights. The airline and the Victorian Government signed a strategic agreement to increase connectivity to Melbourne to further boost trade and tourism. A hundred days before the World Cup, Qatar Airways celebrated 100 days to go until the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 by bringing Qatar to fans through ‘The Journey Tour’, an interactive bus tour across Europe providing several lucky winners with a chance to attend the world’s biggest sporting tournament this winter.
During the World Cup, it operated nearly 14,000 flights, uniting the world in Qatar for the greatest sporting show on Earth. As the Official Airline Partner of FIFA and the Official Airline of the Journey, Qatar Airways celebrated the historic Qatar 2022 with its global passengers through countless international, local, and onboard football-themed activations and entertainment experiences. And in December, it increased its passenger capacity on its flights to and from Perth, Australia; Qatar Duty Free (QDF), the Official Retail Partner Qatar 2022 launched the first FIFA store at HIA.
