Outspoken Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, His Excellency Mr. Akbar Al Baker, has been named the ‘Aviation Executive of the Year’ by the CAPA Centre for Aviation.

H.E. Mr. Al Baker received the award at the organisation’s glittering gala dinner, held on Tuesday in Singapore as part of the CAPA Asia Summit 2017.

The prestigious award recognizes H.E. Mr. Al Baker’s influence on the aviation industry, demonstrating outstanding strategic thinking and innovative direction in shepherding the growth of Qatar Airways’ business and the wider aviation industry as a whole.

Mr. Al Baker is one of the most influential figures in international aviation. Under his leadership, Qatar Airways has grown to become the world’s fastest-growing airline, operating one of the youngest and most technologically advanced fleets in the sky.

A widely recognized and well-respected industry innovator, Mr. Al Baker was elected chairman of the Board of Governors (BoG) of the International Air Transport Association (IATA), effective June 2018.

As a result of H.E. Mr. Al Baker’s innovative leadership, Qatar Airways launched its award-winning and game-changing Business Class seat, Qsuite, earlier this year.

Established in 1990 with head office in Sydney, Australia, CAPA Centre for Aviation is an independent body that provides market intelligence and data to the global aviation industry.