A decade of major accomplishments for Qatar's aviation industry

Qatar has made significant achievements in the field of aviation over the last decade, establishing itself as a major player in the global aviation industry, thanks to the wise leadership and guidance of His Highness the Amir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani.
Last year, the State of Qatar won membership of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) Council for the first time in its history on Group C (for three years up to 2025), through an election.
Qatar achieved a landslide victory in elections and garnered some 160 votes, making it one of the “highest-scoring” candidates on Group C, emphasising the country’s significant contributions and efforts in the civil aviation industry.
According to HE the Minister of Transport, Jassim bin Saif al-Sulaiti, Qatar's winning the membership of ICAO Council emphasises the country’s status and recognition in international forums regionally and globally under the leadership of His Highness the Amir.
Qatar Airways has experienced tremendous growth and expansion in the past decade. It has become one of the world's leading airlines, known for its extensive global network, high-quality service, and state-of-the-art fleet. Qatar Airways consistently receives accolades and awards for its excellence in the aviation industry.
National carrier Qatar Airways operated nearly 14,000 flights during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, which concluded on December 18 last year and was chosen as ‘The Greatest Tournament in the 21st Century’ in a BBC News poll.
Qatar Airways provided “dedicated” passenger overflow spaces outside Hamad International Airport and Doha International Airport, at no cost, where football festivities and live entertainment could be enjoyed while also providing storage space for luggage and carry-ons. This space allowed fans to continue enjoying the celebrations before they departed to their respective destinations.
In 2014, Qatar inaugurated Hamad International Airport (HIA) in Doha, replacing the older Doha International Airport. A world-scale airport, HIA is designed to handle a large volume of passengers and aircraft and is Qatar’s gateway to the world.
It has state-of-the-art facilities, including a stunning terminal building, advanced passenger amenities, and efficient operations. HIA has become a major transit hub, connecting passengers from around the world.
In November last year, Hamad International Airport opened the newly expanded terminal as part of its ‘Phase A’ expansion, which meant the state-of-the-art airport would now be able to cater to 58mn passengers annually.
The newly expanded terminal houses HIA’s second airport hotel – ‘Oryx Garden’ and ‘Orchard’ – an indoor tropical garden that has sourced 300 plus trees and 25,000 plants from sustainable forests around the world.
Drenched in natural light and featuring sustainably sourced plants and shrubs, it offered a show-stopping, luxury shopping experience to fans with many first-of-a-kind retail outlets.
In the expanded terminal, Qatar Duty Free started offering retail and F&B options with more than 65 retail and dining outlets spread across its three levels.
The expansion now enables travellers to “seamlessly transfer” from one area to another, greatly reducing their wait time at the airport.
Qatar Airways launched Qatar Executive, its business jet subsidiary in 2009. Over the past decade, Qatar Executive has established itself as a leading provider of luxury private jet services, offering a fleet of modern aircraft and premium services to meet the demands of high-end travellers.
Qatar has made strategic investments in several international airlines, expanding its influence and partnerships across the aviation industry.
The Qatar Airways Group holds stakes in renowned carriers such as International Airlines Group (IAG), the parent company of British Airways and Iberia, and these investments have provided the national airline with valuable alliances and strengthened its global network.
Qatar Airways currently flies to more than 160 destinations worldwide, connecting through its Doha hub, Hamad International Airport, voted by Skytrax as the ‘World’s Best Airport’ in 2021 and 2022 consecutively.
Qatar's achievements in the field of aviation over the last decade under the leadership of His Highness the Amir clearly demonstrate its commitment to becoming a global aviation powerhouse.
Through the expansion of Qatar Airways, the development of world-class airports, strategic investments, and infrastructure projects, Qatar has successfully positioned itself as a key player in the global aviation industry.