Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, His Excellency Mr. Akbar Al Baker, is one of the most recognisable figures in the global aviation industry. His vision and commitment enabled the ground-breaking development of Qatar Airways from a small regional carrier in to one of the world’s leading global airlines in a span of just 20 years. Today, Qatar Airways flies more than 200 state-of-the-art aircraft to more than 150 destinations across six continents. Under his leadership, Qatar Airways has become one of the world’s most highly-respected airlines, competing on a scale very few airlines achieve. As a result, passengers have recognised the airline’s commitment to the values of safety, security, innovation and quality of service by awarding it the Skytrax Airline of the Year 2017, the fourth time Qatar Airways has received this award in just seven years. Widely known for his ambition and passion for innovation, His Excellency Mr. Al Baker introduced the award-winning Qsuite in March 2017. Featuring the industry’s first-ever double bed available in Business Class, with privacy panels that stow away, the unique and patented design allows passengers in adjoining seats to create their own private suites. He also ensures Qatar Airways leads the way in showcasing the best possible product with the airline being the proud launch customer of the A350-900 in 2014 and A350-1000 in 2018 as well as being the regional launch customer for Boeing Dreamliner 787 in 2015. Mr. Al Baker placed a ground breaking order with Boeing in 2016 for $2.16bn USD. In August 2017, H.E. Mr. Akbar Al Baker, was announced as the Chairman of the Board of Governors (BoG) of the prestigious global aviation industry body International Air Transport Association (IATA), coming in to effect June 2018. In November 2017 he was proudly named ‘Aviation Executive of the Year’ by the CAPA Centre for Aviation in recognition of his global influence and visionary approach to the airline industry. H.E. Mr. Al Baker is also a member of the Executive Committee of the Arab Air Carriers Organisation (AACO) and is a non-executive Director of Heathrow Airport Holdings (HAH) - the company responsible for the running and development of the UK’s largest airport. In June 2015 the President of the Republic of France, Francois Hollande, presented H.E. Mr. Akbar Al Baker with the Legion of Honour in recognition of his leadership in the aviation industry. A highly motivated individual, Mr. Al Baker is a successful businessman in Doha and beyond, holds a private pilot license, and is also CEO of several divisions of Qatar’s national airline – these being Qatar Executive, Hamad International Airport, Qatar Aviation Services, Qatar Aircraft Catering Company, Qatar Distribution Company, Qatar Duty Free and Internal Media Services, to name a few. Born in Doha, he is a graduate in Economics and Commerce and worked at various levels in the Civil Aviation Directorate before being tasked with creating the world’s best airline in 1997.