PART 1
On Wednesday 09th January 2013, Qatar Airways CEO Akbar Al Baker announced that the first commercial flight using the new Jet Fuel (GTL-Gas to Liquid) would fly from Doha to London. (http://www.qatarairways.com/english_global/pressrelease.page?pr_id=pressrelease_pressrelease_20130109)
These words came from a man who had taken Qatar airways from a fleet of 4 aircrafts in 1997 to one of the fastest growing airlines in the world. In 2011 it reached 2 milestones, one of expanding its fleet to 100 aircrafts and secondly reaching 100 destinations across the globe. By 2015 they plan to expand to 170 aircrafts with access to over 170 destinations.(http://www.qatarairways.com/iwov-resources/temp-docs/press-kit/The%20Story%20of%20Qatar%20Airways.pdf ). But the question that comes to mind is how this fastest growing airline performed in the global aviation arena. It seems very well as it received the Skytrax – Airline of the Year in 2011 and 2012 award along with the best airline in the Middle East Award for the seventh consecutive year.
(http://www.qatarairways.com/english_global/pressrelease.page?pr_id=pressrelease_pressrelease_20120712 )
The expansion that Qatar Airways went through and the accolades it has received points towards the exceptional leadership that Mr.Akbar Al Baker has demonstrated as CEO of Qatar Airways. And now with his announcement of the use of GTL Jet Fuel for commercial flights, he has not only made Qatar Airways the first Air carrier in the world to do so but has also shown the world that Qatar Airways will emerge as the Environment Protection leader in the aviation sector.
To understand the benefits claimed by GTL Jet Fuel and Qatar Airways commitment to protect the environment, we need to see how serious is the pollution problem? A National Geographic news by Mason Inman Published on Oct 5, 2010 would shock you. The heading of the article read ‘Plane Exhaust Kills More People Than Plan Crashes’.
References: 7) www.qatarairways.com 8) (http://www.qatarairways.com/english_global/pressrelease.page?pr_id=pressrelease_pressrelease_20130109) 9) http://www.qatarairways.com/iwov-resources/temp-docs/press-kit/The%20Story%20of%20Qatar%20Airways.pdf 10) http://www.qatarairways.com/english_global/pressrelease.page?pr_id=pressrelease_pressrelease_20120712 ) 11) http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2010/10/101005-planes-pollution-deaths-science-environment/) 12) http://www.qatarairways.com/iwov-resources/temp-docs/press-kit/Premium%20Terminal.pdf)