tag

Qatar Airways has been named the 'Best Airline in the World' at the Business Traveller Awards 2025. Held at the Sky Garden in London, the Business Traveller Awards ceremony brought together influential figures from across the travel and hospitality industry to celebrate outstanding achievements. Qatar Airways was recognised by a panel of industry experts, each bringing decades of experience and a sharp eye for excellence, for its role in advancing the aviation industry. Qatar Airways was also awarded Best Business Class in the World, Best Economy Class in the World, Best Frequent Flyer Programme in the World, Best Airline Lounge in the World (Al Mourjan Lounges, DOH), and Best Airline Between Europe and the Middle East. Qatar Airways Chief Commercial Officer Thierry Antinori said: "We are honoured to receive these prestigious accolades that reflect our unwavering commitment to excellence. Being named World's Best Airline, alongside recognition for our Business and Economy Class cabins, loyalty programme, and lounges, is a testament to our dedication to delivering unparalleled experiences, to our customers at each travel touchpoint. These awards reaffirm our position as a global leader and top innovator in the industry, and inspire us to continue setting new leading standards for comfort, connectivity and service." Ink Global Chief Commercial Officer Michael Keating said: "Qatar Airways performed outstandingly well in this year's Business Traveller Awards, winning five of the seven global airline categories and six awards in total. From its industry-leading Business Class product to exceptional inflight service and innovations such as free Starlink Wi-Fi, Qatar Airways is a truly deserving winner. We were delighted to celebrate their success at the Global Awards ceremony in London, and Business Traveller looks forward to seeing how the airline continues to pioneer world-class travel in the years ahead." These recognitions mark another milestone in what has been an outstanding year for Qatar Airways, as the airline continues to expand its global network of over 170 destinations globally, elevate its product offerings, and drive innovation in service excellence. As the national carrier of the State of Qatar, Qatar Airways remains committed to delivering world-class hospitality, elevating the passenger experience, and earning the trust and loyalty of travellers across the globe.

Irish budget airline Ryanair Wednesday said it would slash more than 1mn winter seats in Spain over "excessive airport fees", sparking "extortion" accusations from the national airport operator.The row is the latest clash in an ongoing spat between the carrier and Spanish authorities that erupted last year after the leftist government fined Ryanair €107.8mn for "abusive practices" such as charging for hand luggage.Ryanair said in a statement that the cuts, which affect destinations including the popular Atlantic holiday island of Tenerife, were "due to excessive and uncompetitive airport fees" applied by state-owned airport operator Aena."These cuts will harm already vulnerable Spanish regional airports even more, and inevitably lead to a loss of investment, connectivity, tourism and jobs," Ryanair added, warning "many routes will be economically unviable".Aena chief executive Maurici Lucena retorted in a scathing statement that Spanish airports would "cease to function well" if they "evolved to the tune of the demands, whining, swindling and intolerable strategy of extortion of Ryanair".In January, the airline announced it was scrapping 800,000 seats on seven regional Spanish routes in response to Aena's airport fees.It has also dropped several French airports over a tax hike on air travel.In the past two years, the company has "tried to intimidate the public authorities of Germany, France, Belgium, Portugal, Italy, Greece, Austria, the Netherlands, Denmark and the United Kingdom", Lucena added.In response to last year's fine in Spain, Ryanair's group chief executive Michael O'Leary slammed Spain's far-left consumer rights minister Pablo Bustinduy as a "crazy communist".The firm then launched an advertising campaign that depicted the minister as a clown.Bustinduy has said "no pressure, no blackmail and no insult will stop me" in his defence of Spanish consumers against multinationals.