Qatar Airways appoints new Area Manager for Abu Dhabi and Al Ain

Gedeon will oversee the airline's operations in Abu Dhabi.

Commenting on the posting, Ali Al Rais, Regional Manager said: "Qatar Airways is fast expanding its market in the Abu Dhabi emirate which has two international airports - in Abu Dhabi city and in the garden city of Al Ain. We have decided to station Sami Gedeon in Abu Dhabi. Gedeon will with his long and fruitful experience of 32-years in senior positions in the industry guide the airline into its next phase of growth in the emirate,"

53-year-old Gedeon has an exemplary professional experience. He was, until recently, the Area Manager for Tunisia, Algeria, Lebanon, Syria and Jordan for Swiss International Airlines. Before that, Gedeon was General Manager for Swissair and Sabena in Lebanon. He has also served as Swissair sales manager in Jordan, Syria, Saudi Arabia and Yemen.

Gedeon holds dual Lebanese and Canadian nationality. He is married with two daughters and loves outdoor sports.

Qatar Airways has built an enviable reputation for its customer service and its growth since it was relaunched in 1997.

The international airline quality monitor Skytrax recently rated Qatar Airways' cabin service as the best of the Middle Eastern carriers, and the fifth best in the world.

The airline has bucked the downturn in the international aviation market to become one of the fastest growing airlines in the world — significantly increasing its fleet and expanding its route network across Europe, the Middle East, North Africa, the Indian subcontinent and the Far East.

As part of this growth plan, Qatar Airways will extend its route network to 50 destinations by the end of 2003, and 60 by the end of 2004.

It has recently added Manchester, Rome and Moscow to its route network. It will soon begin flights to Shanghai, Seoul and Tripoli.

Qatar Airways has recently signed a $5.1 billion agreement to purchase 32 more additional Airbus aircraft in a deal that will increase the fleet to 52 by 2008.

Qatar Airways is also one of the launch customers for the A380 'super jumbo' in 2007, when it will take delivery of two of the aircraft.