DOHA, Qatar - The International Air Transport Association (IATA) announced today that nominations have opened for the 2021 IATA Diversity & Inclusion Awards.
Nominations are now open in the three following categories:
Inspirational Role Model Award: Recognises a woman holding a senior position within the air transport industry who has had a significant impact on the aviation agenda through her strong contribution to business delivery, as well as her ongoing support of the diversity and inclusion agenda. Nominees are welcome from across the aviation industry.
High Flyer Award: Recognises a young female aviation professional under the age of 40 who has developed leadership through concrete action in favor of diversity and inclusion, making a positive impact on the industry. Open to all female professionals in the aviation industry.
Diversity & Inclusion Team Award: Recognises an airline that has seen measurable change in diversity and inclusion as a result of the work it has been doing in this area. Open to all IATA member airlines.
The winners of each category will receive $25,000 in prize money sponsored by Qatar Airways payable to the awardee or their nominated charity working on diversity and inclusion projects.
Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive H.E. Mr. Akbar Al Baker, said: 'As an industry, we embrace diversity that reflects the nations and continents we serve, but we must continue to demonstrate leadership and identify greater opportunities to broaden the inclusive nature of aviation, ensuring that we benefit from an engaged workforce that feels valued and appreciated. We believe that supporting greater diversity and gender balance across the global aviation industry is a vital element for future success which is why we are supporting the IATA Diversity and Inclusion awards again this year.'
IATA Director General Mr. Willie Walsh, said: 'The COVID-19 pandemic has not stopped the aviation industry's agenda on diversity and inclusion. In fact, it has been an opportunity to redouble our efforts to improve our performance. Improving our gender balance, in particular, is a top priority as seen by the growing number of signatories to the IATA 25by2025 pledge. The second edition of the IATA Diversity and Inclusion Awards will once again highlight the exceptional work in this area. Along with honoring those leading change, the awards aim to inspire even greater urgency in driving the changes needed to strengthen aviation with a commitment to diversity and inclusion at the industry's highest levels of leadership.'
The 2021 nominations will be evaluated by an independent panel consisting of the 2019 recipients of the IATA Diversity and Inclusion Awards: Christine Ourmieres-Widener, CEO of TAP Air Portugal; Fadimatou Noutchemo Simo, Founder and President of the Young African Aviation Professional Association, and Christina Kennedy, General Manager People - Operations and Employee Experience at Air New Zealand. The judging panel will be chaired by Karen Walker, Editor-in-Chief of Air Transport World.
The deadline for submitting nominations is 29 August 2021 at 18:00 CET. Full details for nominations can be found on the IATA website.
The winners of the 2021 IATA Diversity & Inclusion Awards will be announced at IATA's 77th Annual General Meeting and World Air Transport Summit to be held in Boston, USA (3-5 October 2021).
The IATA Diversity and Inclusion Awards were launched in 2019 to recognise and celebrate the efforts to promote a more diverse and inclusive aviation industry. These annual awards were suspended in 2020 due to the outbreak of COVID-19.
Notes to Editors:
About Qatar Airways:
A multiple award-winning airline, Qatar Airways was named 'World's Best Airline' by the 2019 World Airline Awards, managed by international air transport rating organisation Skytrax. It was also named 'Best Airline in the Middle East', 'World's Best Business Class' and 'Best Business Class Seat', in recognition of its ground-breaking Business Class experience, Qsuite. Qatar Airways is the only airline to have been awarded the coveted 'Skytrax Airline of the Year' title, which is recognised as the pinnacle of excellence in the airline industry, five times.
Hamad International Airport (HIA), the airline's home and hub, was recently ranked 'Third Best Airport in the World', among 550 airports worldwide, by the SKYTRAX World Airport Awards 2020. Rising from fourth position in 2019 to third in 2020, HIA has been steadily rising in the 'World's Best Airports' rankings since the start of its operations in 2014. In addition, HIA was voted the 'Best Airport in the Middle East' for the sixth year in a row and 'Best Staff Service in the Middle East' for the fifth year in a row.
Qsuite, a patented Qatar Airways product, features the industry's first-ever double bed in Business Class, as well as privacy panels that stow away, allowing passengers in adjoining seats to create their own private room, a first of its kind in the industry.
Qatar Airways was the first Gulf carrier to join global airline alliance oneworld, enabling its passengers to benefit from more than 1,000 airports in more than 160 countries, with 14,250 daily departures.
Oryx One, Qatar Airways' in-flight entertainment system offers passengers up to 4,000 entertainment options from the latest blockbuster movies, TV box sets, music, games and much more. Passengers flying on Qatar Airways flights served by its B787, B777, A350, A380, A319 and select A320 and A330 aircraft can also stay in touch with their friends and family around the world by using the award-winning airline's on-board Wi-Fi and GSM service.
Qatar Airways proudly supports a range of exciting international and local initiatives dedicated to enriching the global community that it serves. Qatar Airways, the official FIFA partner, is the official sponsor of many top-level sporting events, including the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022TM, reflecting the values of sports as a means of bringing people together, something at the core of the airline's own brand message - Going Places Together.
Qatar Airways Cargo, one of the world's leading international air cargo carriers, serves more than 60 freighter destinations worldwide via its world-class Doha hub and also delivers freight in the belly-hold deck of passenger aircraft to an extensive network. The Qatar Airways Cargo fleet includes two Boeing 747-8 freighters, 24 Boeing 777 freighters and six B777-300ER mini freighters.
Qatar Executive is the private jet charter division of Qatar Airways Group. Luxury jet services are available for worldwide charter on board the operator's wholly-owned business jet fleet. Qatar Executive is the launch customer for Gulfstream's G700, the world's first commercial service operator of the Gulfstream G500 and largest commercial operator of the G650ER worldwide. Qatar Executive's service portfolio also includes aircraft management, maintenance and Fixed Based Operator services.
For further information, please contact:
Qatar Airways Group, Corporate Communications Department
Tel: +974 4022 2200
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For further information contact:
Qatar Airways Group, Corporate Communications Department
+974 4022 2200
qrmedia@qatarairways.com.qa
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