Qatar Airways Lands Its Five-Star Menu At Washington Dulles

WASHINGTON, Sept. 26, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- On September 25^th, a group of media guests celebrated five-star dining and comfort onboard a Qatar Airways Boeing 777-300ER on the Washington Dulles International Airport tarmac. Qatar Airways invited food, travel, and local journalists to a unique Airplane Dinner showcasing the airline's award-winning Culinary World Menu. The event is the first of its kind ever staged in the history of the airline.

(Photo:  http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130926/NY87127)

Guests ordered from an a-la-carte menu—designed by Chefs Nobu Matsuhisa, Tom Aikens, Vineet Bhatia, and Ramzi Choueiri—all while parked at the gate. Leisurely dining on the airlines' Boeing 777's Business Class seats and tables, the aircraft was literally a converted restaurant, where diners enjoyed delicacies such as mushroom rice fritters by Bhatia, fillet of beef anticucho by Nobu and braburn apple puree with vanilla creme by Aikens. The chefs, who have earned a combined five Michelin stars, worked together to make sure the menu represented the diversity of Qatar Airways' clients, blending dishes from all over the globe. 

Guests were also introduced to James Cluer, the Qatar Airways Master of Wine, who showcased the airline's unique champagne and wine selections and discussed how taste palates change at high altitude and the challenge of choosing the best vintages for the rarefied air of 35,000 feet.

The evening was part of a series of events celebrating the airline's "World's Best Business Class" award  (Skytrax 2013). In July, the airline set up a lounge at the AT&T Best of Washington gala that featured the award-winning Boeing 777 Business Class seat display. Cabin crew showcased key features of the seat, including full-size pillows, personal 17-inch touch-screen TVs, and in-seat massage settings. Qatar Airways also presented a similar exhibit at a charity event in Chicago earlier this month. 

"Qatar Airways has a long tradition of offering a hospitable, personable five star signature service. We are glad to share our latest menu developments with visitors at the event," said Qatar Airways Chief Executive Officer Akbar Al Baker. 

The airline flies daily to Washington, D.C from its hub in Doha, Qatar and also daily to Chicago, New York and Houston.

Qatar Airways has seen rapid growth in just 16 years of operations, currently flying a modern fleet of 129 aircraft to 131 key business and leisure destinations across Europe, Middle East, Africa, Asia Pacific and The Americas.

In 2013, Qatar Airways has launched seven destinations to date – Gassim (Saudi Arabia), Najaf (Iraq), Phnom Penh (Cambodia), Chicago (USA), Salalah (Oman), Basra (Iraq), Sulaymaniyah (Iraq), Chengdu (China) and most recently Addis Ababa (Ethiopia).

Over the next few weeks and months, the network will grow further with Ta'if, Saudi Arabia (October 2), Clark Manila International Airport, Philippines (October 28) and Philadelphia, USA (April 2, 2014).

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Notes to Editors:
Qatar Airways was presented with three honours at the annual Skytrax 2013 World Airline Awards held during the Paris Air Show at Le Bourget, France in June. The airline was awarded World's Best Business Class, World's Best Business Class Lounge and, for the second consecutive year, Best Airline Staff Service in the Middle East. The airline has also been named Best Airline in the Middle East for the seventh year in a row, and its Premium Terminal at Doha International Airport named Best Premium Service Airport for the third consecutive year in 2013. Qatar Airways has also twice been the recipient of the prestigious Skytrax Airline of the Year Award in 2011 and 2012. Skytrax is the only global independent passenger survey monitoring airline standards and is considered the ultimate benchmark for excellence in the airline industry. Qatar Airways currently has orders worth over US$50 billion for more than 250 aircraft, including Boeing 787s, 777s, Airbus A350s, A380s and A320 family of aircraft. On 30 October 2013, Qatar Airways will join the oneworld global alliance. For more information, visit www.qatarairways.com. 

For further information contact:

Qatar Airways Group, Corporate Communications Department
Tel: +974 44302072, Fax: +974 44302069
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: www.qatarairways.com

SOURCE Qatar Airways