Qatar Airways receives ‘Maritime Oscars’ for ‘Investment in People’

Tribune News Network Doha Qatar Airways has won the ‘Investment in People’ accolade from Seatrade Awards 2021, in recognition of its contribution to the we...

Tribune News NetworkDohaQatar Airways has won the ‘Investment in People’ accolade from Seatrade Awards 2021, in recognition of its contribution to the welfare of thousands of seafarers. The airline not only played a leading role in the repatriation of mariners stranded by the pandemic but also continued to facilitate essential crew changes to support the global supply chains.The Seatrade Awards, known as the “Maritime Oscars”, are judged by an independent panel of experts representing key maritime associations across the world.Since the start of the pandemic, Qatar Airways has carried more than 500,000 mariners for both repatriations and crew changes. In addition, the airline operated more than 130 charters carrying over 35,000 workers. Also, the airline’s home airport, the Hamad International Airport (HIA), opened an industry-first dedicated ‘Mariner Lounge’, providing exclusive, complimentary access to seafarers and offshore workers.Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive Akbar Al Baker, said, “We want to express our appreciation to our colleagues and friends in the maritime industry for this important recognition. Throughout the pandemic, we stood shoulder-to-shoulder, keeping the global supply network alive during the most challenging period in recent history. It is our pleasure and privilege to have assisted in safeguarding the welfare of the maritime industry’s most valuable asset, its people.”The global COVID-19 pandemic has created unprecedented challenges for the aviation industry. But Qatar Airways never ceased operations and worked diligently to take people home safely and reliably throughout the crisis. The airline has also added new destinations in the past 18 months, including San Francisco and Seattle in the US; Abidjan, Abuja, Accra, Luanda in Africa, and Brisbane and Cebu in Asia Pacific.A multiple award-winning airline, Qatar Airways was announced as the ‘Airline of the Year’ by the international air transport rating organisation, Skytrax, in addition to securing five additional awards including World’s Best Business Class, World’s Best Business Class Airline Lounge, World’s Best Business Class Airline Seat, World’s Best Business Class Onboard Catering and Best Airline in the Middle East. The airline continues to stand alone at the top of the industry, having now won the main prize for an unprecedented sixth time (2011, 2012, 2015, 2017, 2019 and now 2021). The airline’s hub, Hamad International Airport, was also recently recognised as the ‘Best Airport in the World 2021’, ranking at number one in the Skytrax World Airport Awards 2021.In addition to this, Qatar Airways is the first global airline in the world to achieve the prestigious 5-Star COVID-19 Airline Safety Rating by Skytrax. This follows the success of HIA as the first airport in the Middle East and Asia to be awarded a Skytrax 5-Star COVID-19 Airport Safety Rating.