Qatar Airways bags four travel awards

Qatar Airways Country Manager Eastern Europe Martin Sprongl (right) receives the award at the Airline Business Awards in Warsaw. DOHA: Qatar Airways has picked up two key travel awards within weeks of the launch of its Warsaw route. The Doha-based carrier has been named 'Best Traditional Airline' for its outstanding in-flight product and operational excellence at the annual Best Airline Awards, hosted by Pasazer.com.

Pasazer.com is a business portal on airlines and aviation business in Poland. The portal is recognised as a source of information for professionals and passengers. The Best Airline Awards is held annually and winners are selected by votes from the public; this year's edition gathered 27,000 Internet votes. Winners of additional awards are chosen by a jury of aviation experts, journalists and airport representatives. Qatar Airways cemented its position as a world leading airline by taking the top position among 25 carriers in the category, to take the honours in front of an audience of leading global aviation industry executives who attended the awards, held at the Congress Center in Wroclaw. The airline also received two additional accolades at the ceremony, for the Route Of The Year in recognition of the Warsaw-Doha start-up and also for the airline's Chief Executive Officer, Akbar Al Baker, who was named Aviation Industry Manager of the Year." Al Baker said: "Expanding into Poland has been a focus for the airline for a long time running. We are very pleased with the success of the Warsaw route so far, and we thank the authorities and the Polish travelling public for the strong support we have received." The airline also scooped a prestige award at an event organised by the Polish Airport Authority, where Qatar Airways won the award for "Development of Non-European Flight Connections 2012." The awards come just days before Qatar Airways increases its commitment to the Warsaw market by upgrading its schedule from four-times-weekly to daily flights from February 1. It is an active time for the airline in Poland as it also gears up for the opening of its European Call Centre based in Wroclaw, which is expected to create over 100 jobs. Martin Sprongl, Qatar Airways Country Manager Eastern Europe, said: "To receive four awards is a fantastic achievement and recognition of our continued commitment to service and quality of overall operations in the air and on the ground.  The Peninsula