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Qatar Airways hopes to score in a new partnership with the Asian Football Confederation (AFC). They have signed a global partnership to enhance the fan experience at Asian football tournaments in the coming years. The partnership will run from 2023 to 2029. This covers the AFC Asian Cup Qatar which kicks off on 12 January. It also includes the AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027, AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2026, AFC U23 Asian Cup Qatar 2024 and all AFC youth national team competitions during the period. The sports sponsorship also includes all matches of the AFC Champions League 2023/24 Knockout Stage and AFC flagship club competitions which will take place from the 2024/25 season. These are the AFC Champions League Elite, AFC Women’s Champions League and the AFC Champions League 2. Qatar Airways Holidays is launching football packages for global fans to attend the AFC Asian Cup Qatar. Football packages comprise return flights, hotels, and match tickets. Privilege Club members can collect Avios and Qpoints on these travel packages, with the option to book online using Cash + Avios. Fans can book at www.qatarairways.com/asiancup Qatar Airways Group CEO, Engr. Badr Mohammed Al-Meer, said: “This is a monumental occasion to connect people across borders and promoting competitive sportsmanship.” The partnership adds to Qatar Airways Group’s long roster of sports sponsorship deals. It is the Official Airline of FIFA, Formula 1, Paris-Saint Germain (PSG), Inter Milan and many more AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023 will take place from 12 January to 10 February 2024.

The Qatar Airways - British Airways joint business is set to become a three-way partnership. BA’s IAG sister airline brand Iberia is joining. The joint business is already the largest of its kind, covering more than 60 countries. Iberia will soon join and add a new daily service from Madrid Barajas International Airport to Doha. Passengers will be able to connect to more than 200 destinations through the three global airlines. Together, Iberia’s and Qatar Airways’ expanded service will operate three times daily on the route. Iberia will operate the Airbus A330-200, with 288 seats in Business and Economy cabins. The partnership’s expansion provides customers with more options than ever via Doha, London, and Madrid. Customers from across the Middle-East, Africa, Asia, and Australia can enjoy easy connections to Madrid, Lisbon, Ibiza, Malaga, and many more destinations across Spain and Portugal. Members of British Airways Executive Club, Iberia Plus, and Qatar Airways Privilege Club can collect and spend using their common currency, Avios. Loyalty members can transfer Avios between accounts and combine their balances to claim rewards offered by each programme.

Qatar Airways has landed its inaugural flight in Lyon, France. The new route expands Qatar Airways’ presence in France, operating with four weekly flights. The flag carrier flies to the city on Boeing 787-8 Dreamliners. It features 22 Business Class seats and 232 in Economy. Lyon is Qatar Airways’ third destination in France after Paris and Nice. As well as its famed culinary heritage, Lyon also serves as a gateway to the Alps. Qatar Airways Group CEO, Akbar Al Baker, said: “Our expanded network in France is a testament to our successful cooperation, and we look forward to welcoming French and European passengers”.

Qatar Airways has restarted scheduled nonstop Tokyo flights from Haneda. The Toyko Haneda service restarted this week on Airbus A350-900 aircraft, with 36 Qsuite Business Class seats and 247 in Economy. The route operates daily and joins the existing Tokyo Narita-Doha service. It takes the Tokyo frequency from seven to 14 flights a week. Travellers from Tokyo get easy connections to over 160 destinations in Qatar Airway’s network. Qatar Airways CEO, Akbar Al Baker, said: “Japan remains a significant market for Qatar Airways and its passengers.” Flights to Osaka will resume soon, Al Baker said.

Qatar Airways has inked a deal with Shell to source 3,000 metric tonnes of neat Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) at Amsterdam Schiphol airport. With its existing contract with Shell at Schipol, Qatar Airways will power at least a 5% SAF blend over the contract period for 2023-2024. The agreement is part of a wider effort initiated by the oneworld alliance. Oneworld has set a target of using sustainable aviation fuel for 10% of combined fuel volumes by 2030. Qatar Airways is the first carrier in the Middle East and Africa to procure a large SAF amount in Europe beyond government mandates. Qatar Airways Group CEO, Akbar Al Baker, said: “We remain steadfast in our ambitious target of 10% SAF use by 2030 and this announcement establishes another landmark.” Qatar Airways also operates a carbon credits scheme. It currently invests in carbon credit projects that generate renewable energy.

Qatar Airways is restarting direct Doha to Auckland flights, which commences on 1 September 2023. The Auckland flight departs daily on an Airbus A350-1000 with 46 Business Class and 281 Economy Class seats. A key feature is the Qsuite, available to Business Class passengers. Group CEO, Akbar Al Baker, said: “The direct Doha to Auckland service augments a number of new routes announced in recent weeks.” Sales for the route are open. Customers previously booked for after 1 September travel will be re-accommodated, due to their tickets being via Adelaide to Auckland. The airline continues rebuilding its network to more than 160 destinations worldwide.

Qatar Airways will resume Birmingham flights on 6 July 2023, in time for the British Grand Prix at Silverstone. Operating daily throughout summer, flights are operated on Boeing 787-8 Dreamliners with 254 seats. Silverstone is located an hour away from Birmingham. Qatar Airways Holidays is also offering F1 travel packages. It comprises Birmingham flights, hotels, premium seats at the race, gourmet hospitality, Paddock Club Pit Lane Walk and an exclusive appearance by an F1 legend or driver. Qatar Airways Group CEO. Akbar Al Baker, said: “We continue to be committed to its English market and offer passengers the best travel options available.”

New Qatar Airways flights were unveiled om the opening day of ITB Berlin 2023. It announced seven new destinations for 2023: Chittagong, Juba, Kinshasa, Lyon, Medan, Toulouse and Trabzon. Qatar Airways flights are also resuming to Beijing, Birmingham, Buenos Aires, Casablanca, Davao, Marrakesh, Nice, Osaka, Phnom Penh, Ras Al-Khaimah, and Tokyo Haneda. Multiple destinations also see frequency increases this year. Qatar Airways Group CEO Akbar Al Baker, said: “We continue to look forward to our bright future with multiple projects lined up for 2023.” Destinations slated to receive an increase in frequency include Athens, Berlin, Cairo, Bali and Edinburgh. The airline also recently announced it is the official airline of Formula 1.·

  Qatar Airways, the World’s Best Airline is now the Global Partner and Official Airline of Formula 1^®(F1^®), the pinnacle of motorsport and the world’s most technologically-advanced racing series. Qatar Airways and F1^® will be partners through the 2027 season, bringing thrills and exciting speeds to fans globally.   His Excellency, Sheikh Khalid bin Khalifa bin Abdulaziz Al Thani, The Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, attended the official announcement today at the Lusail Boulevard. The ceremony was also attended by a number of Ministers, Ambassadors and officials.   Today, the leading global airline announced an expansion of its sports partnership portfolio at a captivating event that brought astounding entertainment and special appearances to Doha. In addition to the global partnership, Qatar Airways will be the Title Sponsor of three Grands Prix™ this year: The Qatar Airways Emilia Romagna Grand Prix (19-21 May), the Qatar Airways Hungarian Grand Prix (21-23 July), and the Qatar Airways Qatar Grand Prix (6-8 October).   This season, Formula 1^® boasts its most global racing calendar to date with 23 races across 21 countries and five continents, mirroring the motorsport’s rapidly growing footprint worldwide and the extensive global connectivity offered by the Qatar Airways oneworld Alliance, which serves over 150 countries.   Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, His Excellency Mr. Akbar Al Baker, said: “The best partnerships thrive because of mutual values. Both Qatar Airways and Formula 1^® are global brands that share a passion for innovation, precision and luxury. As a brand, we believe in the power of sports to unite people, and as such, we have been selective with picking the most thrilling sporting events and sponsoring a variety of new and prominent sporting initiatives.”   “With 23 stops in the 2023 World Championship, F1^® is a global sport, requiring a global airline partner that offers extensive global connectivity. Hence, Qatar Airways demonstrates the perfect companion for one of the most desirable sports series in the world.”   Stefano Domenicali, President & CEO of Formula 1^®, said: “As the pinnacle of motorsport, it makes sense for Formula 1^® to partner with the World’s Best Airline, Qatar Airways. We are two brands committed to delivering the best experiences to our fans and customers, and our combined global reach makes for a perfect match. We are delighted to welcome Qatar Airways as our Global Airline Partner.”   To commemorate this partnership, Qatar Airways hosted a special evening for the public at Doha’s iconic Lusail Boulevard, to mark the F1^® announcement and raise awareness about all the motorsport events taking place in Qatar this year. The event featured a special appearance from the Qatari rally champion Nasser Al-Attiyah, Formula 1® President and CEO, Stefano Domenicali, former Red Bull Formula 1® driver, David Coulthard, KTM MotoGP rider, Dani Pedrosa, a Red Bull drift car driven by Abdo Feghali and a static display of an FIA World Endurance Championship Hyper car. Spectators were also treated to a dazzling performance by the best-selling R&B artist, Akon.   For only the second time in history, motorsport fanatics will have the chance to watch their favourite teams and drivers push their cars to the limit at the Lusail International Circuit when F1^® heads back to Qatar for the Qatar Airways Grand Prix on 6-8 October, 2023.   In addition to the Formula 1^® Qatar Airways Qatar Grand Prix 2023, the Lusail International Circuit will host the Qatar Moto GP on 17-19 November. Other motorsport events in Qatar include the Geneva International Motor Show in October 2023 and the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) World Endurance Championship in 2024.   To celebrate this partnership, Discover Qatar, the Destination Management Company of Qatar Airways, are the first to offer tickets to the Formula 1^® Qatar Airways Qatar Grand Prix 2023. Today, Discover Qatar have exclusively launched a comprehensive range of hotel and ticket-inclusive packages to their global retail partners, which include Grandstand and prestigious Paddock Club tickets. All packages include a free entry pass to the Geneva International Motor Show taking place in Doha from 5-14 October, courtesy of Qatar Tourism.   Qatar Airways Holidays further elevates the partnership with all-inclusive travel packages, allowing global fans around the world to attend the event and partake in exclusive experiences such as pit lane walks, guided track tours and access to special events with appearances by top F1^® drivers. The Ultimate F1^® Experience packages include return flights with Qatar Airways, premium hotel options, race tickets and other exciting experiences and benefits. To secure packages, customers can visit the dedicated link, qatarairways.com/F1   Both Qatar Airways and F1^® are committed to working together to reduce the environmental impact of their respective industries through responsible practices. As part of the partnership, both entities aim to collaborate on sustainability-focused initiatives to reduce carbon dioxide emissions and strive for a greener future.   Qatar Airways as a brand is committed to supporting global sports, helping fans travel to their favourite events wherever they may be. The airline is a leading global football supporter, with partnerships including FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™, Paris Saint-Germain, FC Bayern, Concacaf and CONMEBOL. Additionally, Qatar Airways is the official airline of the Ironman and Ironman 70.3 Triathlon Series, Official Airline Partner of the United Rugby Championship (URC), Global Kitesports Association and multiple other disciplines including equestrianism, padel, squash and tennis.   A multiple award-winning airline, Qatar Airways was announced as the ‘Airline of the Year’ at the 2022 World Airline Awards, managed by the international air transport rating organisation, Skytrax. It was also named ‘World’s Best Business Class’, ‘World’s Best Business Class Airline Lounge’, ‘World’s Best Business Class Airline Seat’, ‘World’s Best Business Class Onboard Catering’ and ‘Best Airline in the Middle East’. The airline continues to stand alone at the top of the industry having won the main prize for an unprecedented seventh time (2011, 2012, 2015, 2017, 2019, 2021 and 2022).   Qatar Airways currently flies to more than 150 destinations worldwide, connecting through its Doha hub, Hamad International Airport, voted by Skytrax as the ‘World’s Best Airport’ 2022.

Qatar Airways and Airbus have reached an amicable settlement in their long running A350 jet paint squabble. It relates to Qatar Airways claim of A350 surface degradation and the grounding of A350 aircraft. A repair project is now underway. The exact details of the settlement are confidential Both parties will now end their legal claims. This agreement enables Qatar Airways and Airbus to move forward and work together. The airline was forced to ground nearly half of its fleet of A350 jets due to surface paint problems. Discussions with Airbus failed to initially resolve the issue. The airline sought more than $600 million in damages Airbus then threatened to cancel a multi-billion dollar aircraft order with the airline.

Qatar Airways and British Airways completed the latest phase in their partnership expansion They say it now offers global connectivity between more countries than any other airline joint business. The airlines have added 42 new countries to their shared network, including Italy, the Maldives, Norway, Singapore, and Sweden -- giving passengers more access between destinations in Europe and the Middle East, Africa, Asia and Oceania. This is all part of Qatar Airways and British Airways' plan to ‘Move Further Together’ they say. The expansion enables connecting journeys on single tickets through Doha and London, bringing the total number of destinations served by the two airlines to 185 across more than 60 countries. Additionally, customers will have more access with both airlines' loyalty programmes, earning and spending Avios, their common currency. Customers can link their Qatar Airways Privilege Club and British Airways Executive Club accounts to transfer Avios between the two, and combine balances to claim rewards offered by each programme. The collaboration also offers access to both airline's lounges,.

With the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 kicking off in less than three months, FIFA's official airline partner Qatar Airways is celebrating with a new TV ad. The TV commercial celebrates journeys leading up to the FIFA World Cup, accompanied by the iconic ‘We Will Rock You’ anthem. It reflects the airline’s belief that sport is a universal language that unites fans. Fans are invited to view it via the airline's new virtual reality experience the Qverse By visiting www.qatarairways.com/FWC2022, users can access a hands-on experience in the virtual world on-board the Qsuite, where they can watch the campaign on the virtual in-flight entertainment screen. Users are also encouraged to play the Inflight Delight Game for a chance to win a FIFA World Cup travel package, inclusive of match tickets, return flights and accommodation. “Our latest commercial expresses our anticipation and excitement for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, and captures our own enthusiasm about sports. We are fully geared up to fly in global fans to witness the greatest sporting show on Earth." Qatar Airways has ramped up all-inclusive travel packages for fans. These packages include match tickets, return flights and accommodation, at qatarairways.com/FIFA2022. Qatar Airways currently flies to more than 150 destinations worldwide, connecting through its Doha hub, Hamad International Airport