JEDDAH, 7 June 2008 — Qatar Airways signed one of the “most prestigious corporate deals” with Abdul Latif Jameel Co. Ltd. (ALJ) in Jeddah on Thursday night.
Ahmed M. Al-Idrissi, Qatar Airways’ area manager for Western Province, and George Michael Shaw, managing director, shared services, ALJ, signed the agreement. Top officials of the airline and ALJ were present at the event held at Rosewood Corniche Hotel.
“This is a strategic deal to offer quality service to one of the Kingdom’s most prestigious companies that is committed to quality,” Al-Idrissi told Arab News. “I am delighted to serve my corporate clients in a very special manner through such deals. Through such deals, we ensure service to our corporate clients on priority.”
The airline started its corporate account services last year and now serves a large number of “top level and prestigious” companies, he said, adding that such deals facilitate the airline to offer special care and attention to all the employees and their immediate dependents. “Personalized service is offered to such corporate clients, aside from special offers and fares,” Al-Idrissi added.
“Our new service for corporate accounts does not effect the healthy relations that we have with our travel trade partners, but helps in enhancing the level of service to them,” he added.
According to Al-Idrissi, in a very short time Qatar Airways took the initiative to become a pioneer in handling corporate accounts, especially across Western Province, and is able to meet their demand in a professional manner. The airline operates a modern fleet of 60 Airbus and Boeing aircraft to 81 destinations across the Middle East, Africa, Indian Subcontinent, Far East and North America.
The airline, which recently added its fourth destination in China, to Guangzhou, will expand its North American operations with a regular service to Houston later this year, he added.
The airline is one of an elite group of carriers with a five-star ranking for service and excellence awarded by Skytrax, the independent aviation industry research company. Skytrax also named Qatar Airways’ cabin crew as best in the Middle East for the fifth year running in 2007, following a survey of more than 12 million passengers. During the current 2007-08 financial year, the airline expects to carry more than 10 million passengers worldwide.
Welcoming the deal, ALJ’s Travel manager Ashraf S. Elashri said: “With such a deal, it becomes a win-win situation for both parties.” ALJ has a 10,500 strong workforce across Saudi Arabia.
