(MENAFN- The Peninsula) joelyn baluyut |
The Peninsula
Doha, Qatar: Qatar Aviation Services (QAS), the ground-handling organisation of Qatar Airways Group, has reported a remarkable achievement.
“In 2022, QAS has safely handled over 217,000 flights, delivering an on-time performance rate of 99.31% and meeting the special assistance needs of 656,000 passengers,” according to Qatar Airways Group annual report for the fiscal year 2022/2023.
Moreover, the report highlighted that with seamless, 24/7 operations, their multicultural team, comprised of highly qualified employees from over 53 countries,“QAS has established its position as an industry leader in providing unparalleled ground-handling services.”
Established in 2000 and headquartered at Hamad International Airport (HIA), QAS is renowned for providing top-notch ground services to international airlines, heads of state, VIPs, private fleets, executive charter flights, and cargo operators.
Annually, QAS serves more than 35 million passengers, handling over 57 million pieces of baggage. Impressively, they maintain a low mishandling rate of just 0.72 items per 1,000 passengers. The organisation also produces over 166,000 load sheets annually, showcasing its commitment to efficient operations and customer satisfaction.
The dedication and hard work of QAS have resulted in outstanding baggage performance and enhanced customer experiences. The organisation has achieved an efficient on-time delivery of cargo, surpassing 2.1 million tonnes per year, with an average annual growth rate of 2%.“On the ramp, the QAS team maintained an operational capability of more than 99% for over 2,600 motorised and over 5,800 non-motorised units of ground servicing equipment.”
As a member of the International Air Transport Association (IATA) Ground Handling Partnership, QAS actively participates in various world-leading technical groups, including the IATA Ground Operations Manual, Load Control and Messaging, Ground Service Equipment, Environment, and Airside Safety Group. They implement recommendations to enhance safety standards in the aviation industry.
Additionally, QAS holds several certifications, such as ISAGO, ISO 9001, and RA3 (Regulated Agent), further demonstrating their commitment to excellence.
In a significant milestone, QAS partnered with the IATA in August 2022 to become the first ground handler globally to join the new expansion of the IATA Environmental Assessment Program (IEnvA) for ground service providers.“Through its participation, it aims to meet and exceed the highest environmental standards whilst developing future expansion strategies.”
One of the most notable achievements of QAS was during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 event. Between November 18 and December 19 last year, QAS served as the sole ground handler for the first time in the history of world cup tournaments. During this period, QAS successfully managed more than 200 flight operators, handling over 25,000 movements with an impressive on-time performance rate of 99.40%. This included handling 3.7 million passengers, with nearly 54,000 passengers requiring special assistance.
Furthermore, QAS handled over 2.9 million items of baggage during the FIFA World Cup operations, with an exceptionally low rate of only 0.12 baggage missed per 1,000 passengers. The organisation handled more than 3,000 operations, catering to private jets, freighters, and charter flights.