AIRLINES & AIRPORTS

QATAR AIRWAYS OFFICIAL AIRLINE AND PRESTIGE PARTNER OF 15th ASIAN GAMES DOHA 2006
04/12/2006
Doha, QATAR – Award-winning Qatar Airways is delighted to be a key player in the biggest and best-ever sporting event in the Middle East when the global spotlight will turn on Qatar for the country’s proudest moment – hosting the 15th Asian Games Doha 2006.
As the Official Airline and Prestige Partner of the 15th Asian Games, Qatar Airways has worked tirelessly to support the world’s second largest sporting event after the Summer Olympics.
Between December 1 – 15, Doha hosts two weeks of sporting entertainment bringing the finest athletes from across the Asian continent to compete for fame and glory.
Qatar Airways is also proud to be the Official Partner of all the national teams, flying athletes, officials, media and representatives of Asia’s 45 National Olympic Committees to Doha and experience the airline’s award-winning Five Star service and hospitality.
Doha-based Qatar Airways is among an elite group of only four airlines in the world ranked Five Star for service, high standards and excellence by Skytrax, the international aviation industry monitoring agency.
In keeping with the 15th Asian Games slogan, the ‘Games of Your Life’ Qatar Airways is excited at helping make the sporting spectacle the huge success it promises to be. With more than 10,500 athletes and officials from 45 nations descending on Doha, the Asian Games will firmly put Qatar on the international stage.
Qatar Airways has been working closely with the Doha Asian Games Organising Committee (DAGOC) on preparations for the event for more than 12 months since signing a US$10 million sponsorship agreement as Official Airline and Prestige Partner.
Highlights of Qatar Airways’ activities to promote the 15th Asian Games include: -
Qatar Airways has increased frequency and capacity from key markets to Doha to cope with demand before and during the Asian Games.
Ahead of the start of the Asian Games, Qatar Airways opened the world’s only dedicated First and Business Class terminal at Doha International Airport. The US$90 million Premium Terminal, built in just nine months for exclusive use of Qatar Airways’ First and Business Class passengers, features a spa, jacuzzis, fine dining restaurants, business centre, games areas and duty-free shopping.
Seven Qatar Airways Airbus A330 long-haul aircraft have been branded with the colourful Doha 2006 livery to spread the spirit of the games. Operating in three distinct colour schemes – blue, red and orange – these brand ambassadors have been flying across Asia and, indeed, around the world, to many of Qatar Airways’ 70 international destinations for more than 12 months.
Qatar Airways has embarked on a global television and print campaign focusing on its partnership with the Asian Games
Ten lucky Qatar Airways employees won the chance to proudly represent the company as Official Torchbearers by carrying the Asian Games Flame through the streets of Doha, just days before the Opening Ceremony at Khalifa Stadium.
Oryx, the airline’s inflight magazine, has produced a special 80-page guide on the Asian Games, available to passengers on all flights.
The airline has set up special exhibition areas – along the Corniche, at Doha Golf Club and Market Street within Sports City – joining in the fun and excitement of two-weeks of sporting entertainment.
Qatar Airways is part of The Sponsors’ Hospitality Village at Sports City with a dedicated hospitality area for guests.
Qatar Airways Chief Executive Officer Akbar Al Baker expressed delight that the airline was flying sporting talent from across the Asian continent to Doha and enable athletes, officials and the media to enjoy the carrier’s award-winning Five Star hospitality.
“I am extremely pleased that Qatar Airways is backing such a high-profile event, which hundreds of millions of people from across the Asian continent and around the world will be able to watch live on television,” he said.
“Qatar will firmly be in the international spotlight and it is indeed a great pleasure and honour for Qatar Airways to be part of this exciting event, which will undoubtedly go down in history as the best-ever Asian Games.”
“As Prestige Partner, Qatar Airways has become an integral part of the Asian Games family. This is a moment of great pride for Qatar and, as the national carrier, we too feel an overwhelming sense of pride and a responsibility to make sure that the spirit of the games permeates across the world, carried by true Qatari hospitality.”
Added Al Baker: “ This is so much more than a sporting event. This is about the State of Qatar further establishing itself as a key player on the world stage and further recognising Qatar Airways as a global player with high standards of professionalism and service that we are so renowned for.”
Qatar Airways currently operates a young fleet of 52 all-Airbus aircraft from Doha to 70 cities across Europe, Africa, Middle East, Far East and Indian subcontinent.