His Excellency, Mr. Akbar Al Baker Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive Mr. Akbar Al Baker has been instrumental in shaping the development of Qatar Airways into one of the fastest growing and most highly acclaimed airlines in the world – named Airline of the Year 2017, 2015, 2012, 2011 and runner up in 2016, 2014, and 2013 by global industry audit Skytrax. Mr. Al Baker has spearheaded the growth of Qatar Airways, which operated only four aircraft in a regional capacity prior to his appointment. Qatar Airways currently flies 200 aircraft to more than 150 destinations across six continents. Mr. Al Baker is the Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Arab Air Carriers Organisation (AACO), a member of the Board of Governors of the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and is a non-executive Director of Heathrow Airport Holdings (HAH). AACO is the organisation responsible for the development of the airline industry in the Arab world, IATA is the world regulatory body of airlines, and HAH is the company responsible for the running and development of the UK’s largest airport. The President of the Republic of France, Francois Hollande, presented Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, His Excellency Mr. Akbar Al Baker with a Legion of Honour in June 2015 in recognition of his leadership in the aviation industry. A highly motivated individual, Mr. Al Baker has been a successful businessman in Doha for more than 25 years, holds a private pilot licence, 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. Born in Doha, he is a graduate in Economics and Commerce and worked at various levels in the Civil Aviation Directorate before becoming Qatar Airways’ Group Chief Executive in 1997. -ends- .