Qatar Airways out in force at Dubai air show 2005

The five-day event, taking place between 20-24 November 2005 at Airport Expo besides Dubai International Airport, will provide award-winning Qatar Airways with an opportunity to showcase the Five Star hospitality that it is so renowned for around the world.

Arguably one of the fastest growing airlines in the world, Qatar Airways has secured prime positions at the show with a luxury chalet backing onto the aircraft display area, together with an indoor stand in the main exhibition hall.

The two-tier chalet features a reception, lounge, and hospitality seating, together with a first floor private business meeting area. The stand is a futuristic wing-shaped design with plenty of meeting space and a First Class seat on display. There will also be a large complement of Qatar Airways cabin crew and the airline will be promoting its new-look premium cabin inflight service, recently introduced on the London Heathrow route, and gradually being rolled out on other international services.

Qatar Airways is one of a select-few airlines taking part in the event that attracts manufacturers of commercial aircraft, military jets, helicopters and engines, as well as buyers and visitors from around the world.

Now in its ninth year, the event has moved to a new home at Airport Expo with new purpose-built exhibition facilities.

This year's event features more than 500 exhibitors from over 40 countries at an expanded show site to accommodate increasing demand for exhibition space, dedicated pavilions and visitor facilities.

Qatar Airways Chief Executive Officer Akbar Al Baker is leading a high-level delegation from the airline's headquarters in Doha to the show.

He said: "Dubai Air Show is held every two years on our doorstep and always attracts the leading players from the world's aviation industry. The event gives us the opportunity to network and meet our business partners - and we look forward to a highly productive week.

"Qatar Airways is developing at an unprecedented rate in a region that is one of the fastest growing in the world in terms of aviation. Our expansion is a commitment by the
State of Qatar to develop the country as a key aviation hub in the Middle East over the next few years. Our growth, together with the opening of the New Doha International Airport in 2009, will significantly place Qatar on the international map."

Al Baker has been instrumental in turning around the airline's fortunes, relaunching it in 1997 from a small regional carrier to a fully-fledged international operation. He has earned huge recognition for his work, including being named Airline Personality of the Year at the World Travel Awards held in London earlier this month.

The airline was also honoured at the awards for having the World's Leading Flat Bed Seat, named as Leading Airline in the Middle East and producing the Best Inflight Meal Service.

Qatar Airways currently flies to 67 destinations across Europe, Middle East, Africa, Indian subcontinent and the Far East from its operational hub of Doha, capital of the State of Qatar. With its codeshare partners, the airline serves more than 80 destinations worldwide. It launches scheduled flights to the Spanish capital, Madrid, on December 2, followed by the German capital Berlin on December 15.

The airline operates a fleet of 42 all-Airbus aircraft which will almost triple in size to 110 jets by 2015. The airline recently signed a letter of intent to acquire up to 60 of the new generation Airbus A350s. And it plans to acquire 20 Boeing 777s with a total value for both orders set to be worth US$15.2 billion.