Qatar Airways has won the Airline of the Year award, known as "the Oscars of the aviation industry," for a record seventh time at the Skytrax World Airline Awards 2022.

At the event in London Friday, the airline also took home three additional awards, including World's Best Business Class, World's Best Business Class Lounge Dining, and Best Airline in the Middle East.

The awards covered the 12 months from September 2021 to August 2022 with over 14 million eligible entries counted in the results, a period when Qatar Airways increased its global network back to over 150 destinations.

Earlier, Qatar Airways was named Airline of the Year in 2011, 2012, 2015, 2017, 2019, and 2021, according to a media statement.

Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive Akbar Al Baker, said: "To be named as the World's Best Airline was always a goal when Qatar Airways was created, but to win it for the seventh time and pick up three additional awards is a testament to all the hard work of our incredible employees."

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 "To win these awards in the same year that we celebrate our 25th anniversary is even more rewarding and I want to offer a sincere thanks to all our passengers who voted for us," he added.

 Edward Plaisted of international air transport rating organisation Skytrax said: "Qatar Airways were the largest airline to have flown consistently throughout the Covid-19 pandemic, with their network never falling below 30 destinations, and that determination has been well recognised by customers with this award as Airline of the Year 2022."

Qatar Airways now flies to more than 150 destinations worldwide, connecting through its Doha hub, Hamad International Airport.