News Desk
DOHA: Qatar Airways has achieved 100 per cent compliance in the IATA Operational Safety Audit (IOSA), verifying its status as one of the world’s safest and most secure airlines.
As an industry leader in aviation safety, the airline has demonstrated a strong safety and security performance record. It was the first airline to complete the IOSA audit with 100 per cent compliance in 2003, and has since completed the audit in 2005, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2013 and 2015, achieving 100 per cent compliance each year.
Not only does Qatar Airways have a proven track record of active compliance with international regulatory safety and security requirements, it is consistently among the first airlines to accommodate EU, UK and US immigration and enhanced security requirements, such as recently qualifying to have the US ban on personal electronic devices lifted.
Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, His Excellency Mr. Akbar Al Baker said, “At Qatar Airways, safety and security are always our highest priorities. They are expressed in everything we do. We were pleased to be the first airline audited under the IOSA program in 2003, and we remain very proud of maintaining our unblemished safety and security record yet again in 2017. This achievement provides continued assurance that Qatar Airways meets world class safety and security standards when measured against IATA’s global benchmark. I congratulate all our staff on this achievement, which is recognition of their dedication to the safety and security of our passengers.”
The IOSA programme enables airlines to review their safety processes using a worldwide standard that has become the single internationally-accepted safety and security audit process for airlines. Under IOSA, accredited auditors assess an airline’s operational management and control systems, including the areas of corporate organisation and management, flight operations, operational control, flight dispatch, aircraft engineering and maintenance, cabin operations, aircraft ground handling, cargo operations and operational security.
Since 2003, when the audit programme was initiated, Qatar Airways has expanded its global footprint to more than 150 destinations, with plans to continue adding a host of new and exciting business and leisure destinations throughout 2017 and 2018, including Canberra, Australia; Chiang Mai, Thailand; Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; San Francisco, US and Santiago, Chile, to name a few. The airline continues its expansion in Eastern Europe this summer with the recent launch of service to Skopje, soon to be followed by Prague, Czech Republic.
Qatar Airways has received a number of accolades this year, including Airline of the Year by the prestigious 2017 Skytrax World Airline Awards, which was held at the Paris Air Show. This is the fourth time that Qatar Airways has been awarded this global recognition. In addition, the national carrier of the State of Qatar also won a raft of other major awards at the ceremony, including Best Airline in the Middle East, World’s Best Business Class and World’s Best First Class Airline Lounge.
Qatar Airways, based in Doha, Qatar, is one of the fastest-growing airlines operating one of the youngest and most technologically advanced fleets in the world. The airline is also celebrating its twentieth year of global operations this year. Qatar Airway’s modern fleet of 200 aircraft flies to more than 150 key business and leisure destinations across six continents.
