LOS ANGELES: Qatar Airways (QA) celebrated the successful launch of daily, non-stop service to Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) last week with a star-studded gala event at the world-famous Dolby Theatre in Hollywood.
The Skytrax 2015 ‘Airline of the Year’ rang in New Year by landing its first flight at LAX on January 1, with the official celebration which took place on January 12.
The airline hosted many of Los Angeles’ prominent luminaries and celebrity guests, including Paula Abdul, Jamie King, Nicole Scherzinger, Christina Milian, Brooke Burns, Mario Lopez, Terrell Owens and the cast of Bravo TV’s Shahs of Sunset, including G G Gharachedaghi and Asa Soltan Rahmati.
The evening featured a stunning performance by Grammy Award-winning legend and global superstar Mariah Carey.
“Los Angeles is a key addition to our global network,” said Akbar Al Baker, Chief Executive, Qatar Airways Group.
“Here, people dream big and embrace the glamour and sophistication that is the foundation of modern day air travel. Los Angeles gave rise to the first ‘jet set’ and we are honoured to bring our unmatched service and amenities to a city and a culture that appreciate our commitment to excellence.”
The audience of movie industry insiders, celebrities, philanthropists and travel and hospitality VIPs were treated to an Arabic-inspired opening number featuring aerialists and dancers as well as a short film on Qatar and the evolution of QA.
The guests were then invited on to the stage that has hosted the Academy Awards since 2002, to enjoy a dinner designed by Wolfgang Puck.
To cap off the evening, the guests enjoyed a show-stopping performance by Carey, who delighted the audience with her classic, signature style.
The red carpet event also featured an incredible set of prize giveaways. To celebrate QA’s 2016 brand campaign ‘Going Places Together’, the airline raffled pairs of Business Class tickets to any of over 150 destinations in its network.
“For us, travel is more than flying from point A to B. Our new service to Los Angeles opens opportunities for families to reconnect, new business ventures to be formed or strengthened, and for more travellers to enhance their lives through the transformative power of exploration and adventure,” said Al Baker. “Through our award-winning service, we can share our rich cultures, exchange new ideas and drive economic benefits for Los Angeles and the cities now connected along our network.”
Los Angeles, the airline’s eight US destination, is the first of many new launches this year.
QA will commence service to Boston on March 16 and Atlanta on June 1, while adding a second daily flight from New York’s JFK Airport on April 1. QA is also the first to bring the state-of-the-art Airbus A350 to America, where it now flies a daily, non-stop service to and from Philadelphia.
The Peninsula
