The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has announced Qatar Airways as the host airline for the 70th Annual General Meeting (AGM) and World Transport Summit to be held in Doha during June 1 – 3 next year. The announcement was made on 4th June at the close of this year’s AGM in the South African city of Cape Town. Over 700 aviation leaders drawn from airlines, aircraft manufacturers, engine manufacturers and airports were in South Africa to discuss and debate key industry issues such as rising fuel prices, safety, environment and financial stability. 

Qatar Airways Chief Executive Officer Akbar Al Baker, who last year was voted onto the IATA Board of Governors, addressed the close of the event. “On behalf of Qatar Airways and Qatar, bringing the IATA AGM to our capital city of Doha next year for the first time is a great honour,” he said. 

Qatar Airways has been an IATA member since 1997. In 2004, it became the first airline to join the registry of the IATA Operational Safety Audit (IOSA) and has to date secured the audit consistently with 100 per cent compliance. 

Meanwhile, Qatar Airways has also launched flights to its fourth destination in Iraq – to the southern city Basra. The new services, operating four-times-a-week non-stop from the airline’s Doha hub, take the carrier’s global network to 128 destinations worldwide. 

The arrival of Qatar Airways’ flight QR 448 was welcomed at Basra International Airport. Fathi Al Shehab, Qatar Airways Senior Vice President GCC, Levant, Iran and Indian Subcontinent led an official delegation on the flight from Doha. 

The Basra flights connect to more than 100 destinations worldwide, including London, Paris, Singapore, Bangkok,