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QATAR AIRWAYS TO BUILD HOUSING FOR SRI LANKAN VICTIMS OF THE TSUNAMI DISASTER

 Airline Staff Raise Funds To Rebuild Homes In Fishing Village

Qatar Airways is spearheading a rebuilding project of housing in a fishing village devastated by last year's tsunami disaster in Sri Lanka.

Staff at the Doha-based airline, which employs more than 400 Sri Lankan nationals, initiated a fund-raising drive towards the reconstruction of 25 homes in a village affected by the tsunami.

Qatar Airways has worked closely with Habitat International &endash; a non-government organization that assists in building houses for the homeless &endash; to identify one affected site and help the local community get back on its feet.

The fishing village of Jambuwatte in Balapitiya, 80km south of the Sri Lankan capital Colombo, was chosen as the adopted site by Qatar Airways and work began in early August on rebuilding houses, which were flooded, destroyed or swept away when tragedy struck on 26 December 2004.

Qatar Airways Chief Executive Officer Akbar Al Baker said he was deeply touched as the events unfolded across the Indian Ocean when the tsunami devastated the lives of hundreds of thousands of people across the region last year.

"Many of our Sri Lankan staff have friends and families affected by last December's disaster. I am extremely grateful to the employees here at Qatar Airways to have initiated this fund-raising effort which the airline has fully supported."

Added Al Baker: "By rebuilding homes damaged or destroyed by the tsunami, we are helping a community get back on its feet. It is extremely important that we fulfill our obligation and social responsibility to help in whatever little way we can.

"Tourism is one of Sri Lanka's largest industries which we help support by flying in holidaymakers and friends and families to the country.

"Sri Lanka was our first international destination served outside the Middle East when the airline began operations in its former guise in 1993. We carry a lot of passengers to and from Sri Lanka which has developed into a vitally important market for us."

A sample of testimonials from Qatar Airways employees who donated to the appeal:

Kathryn Brass, Cabin Crew, Qatar Airways

"I have been fortunate to travel around the world with Qatar Airways and meet people from so many diverse cultures. The tsunami affected so many people. They lost everything they had &endash; families, homes and livelihoods &endash; and it was only right that we could do something to give them a future to look forward to."

Menik Amaratunga, Manager Human Resources, Qatar Airways

"I was in Sri Lanka when the tsunami hit and was taken aback by the level of destruction and death caused. I am indebted to Qatar Airways and, in particular, our CEO Mr Akbar Al Baker, for supporting the rebuilding of the fishing village of Jambuwatte and hope to bring back smiles to some of those affected."

Award-winning Qatar Airways is one of the fastest-growing airlines operating one of the youngest fleets in the world to 66 destinations in Europe, Middle East, Africa, Indian sub-continent and Asia. The airline, based in Doha, capital of the State of Qatar, operates a fleet of 40 modern all-Airbus aircraft. The airline is one of only three in the world to be awarded a Five Star ranking by Skytrax &endash; the independent aviation industry monitoring agency &endash; for high service standards and quality.

For more information, visit www.qatarairways.com. Qatar Airways maintains an office in Toronto, Canada, which can be contacted at: Tel. (416) 290-0999 / toll free 1-888-366-5666, or by email at help@qatarairways.ca.      

 

QATAR AIRWAYS ON A QUEST TO EXPAND 

TORONTO: Award-winning Qatar Airways is set to expand even further with the news that it has signed on with CNN International to sponsor a new feature program, 'Quest'. This new media exposure is just one of many steps Qatar Airways intends to take in order to establish themselves as a key global player in the airline industry.

QATAR AIRWAYS: ON A 'QUEST' FOR GREATNESS

Qatar Airways and CNN International have announced collaboration as part of an integrated communications solution developed by the international news broadcaster.

'Quest', a new monthly half-hour feature program is being sponsored by Doha-based Qatar Airways, and is set to become a key part of CNN's programming schedule.  This new monthly series puts CNN's Richard Quest in front of some of the world's greatest and most influential figures in their field as he goes in search of the excellence that drives the world of business and beyond.  

The partnership with Qatar Airways includes sponsorship of the monthly programme on CNN and the dedicated web site on CNN.com international edition, www.cnn.com/quest, online advertising across the international website and a series of 60 second vignettes to run alongside Qatar Airways' advertising spots.

Qatar Airways Chief Executive Officer Akbar Al Baker said: "We are extremely delighted to sponsor this exciting new CNN show fronted by one of CNN's leading journalists who has become a household name with his own unique personality.

QATAR UNVEILS GROWTH STRATEGY IN SINGAPORE

 

Akbar Al Baker, CEO of Qatar Airlines, recently presented his vision of the airline as a force to be reckoned with over the next few years, during a media briefing held in Singapore. Celebrating the launch of daily non-stop flights to the island state using the Airbus A330 aircraft, Al Baker hosted leading Singapore media figures over lunch at the city's Four Seasons Hotel.

Al Baker spoke of Qatar Airways' meteoric growth since its relaunch in 1997 to become one of the fastest growing airlines in the world, discussing the company's vision to become a key player in global aviation. Qatar Airways operates a fleet of 40 all-Airbus aircraft, and has announced plans at the Paris Air Show to acquire up to 80 planes, comprising 60 of the new generation A350s and 20 Boeing 777s worth a total US$15.2 billion.

Al Baker said the airline will almost triple its fleet size by the year 2015, and described how Qatar Airways had made significant inroads in the industry to become an award-winning airline in just a short few years.

As part of the airline's growth strategy, Al Baker said Qatar Airways has been introducing new destinations and increasing frequency on existing routes to offer passengers with a greater choice of flights and convenient connection opportunities over Doha.

Al Baker also briefed the media on the current state of the US$5.5 billion New Doha International Airport, of which construction began in January 2005 and was on schedule for phase one to be completed by 2009.

He detailed how the new airport would be an "architectural marvel", and the first in the world to be designed and built specifically for Airbus's new A380-800 double-decker 'super jumbo' &endash; the largest passenger aircraft ever built. The A380 will be capable of carrying more than 550 passengers, with Qatar Airways a launch customer taking delivery of the first of its four A380s in 2009, the year the new airport opens. 

Award-winning Qatar Airways is one of the fastest-growing airlines operating one of the youngest fleets in the world to 66 destinations in Europe, Middle East, Africa, Indian sub-continent and Asia. The airline, based in Doha, capital of the State of Qatar, operates a fleet of 40 modern all-Airbus aircraft. The airline is one of only three in the world to be awarded a Five Star ranking by Skytrax &endash; the independent aviation industry monitoring agency &endash; for high service standards and quality.

For more information, visit www.qatarairways.com. Qatar Airways maintains an office in Toronto, Canada, which can be contacted at: Tel. (416) 290-0999 / toll free 1-888-366-5666, or by email at help@qatarairways.ca.