Qatar Airways hosts stars at Los Angeles launch gala

25 January 2016 03:05 am

Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive Akbar Al Baker (left) and Boeing Commercial Airplanes President and CEO Ray Conner at Qatar Airways’ gala event in Los Angeles


Qatar Airways 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 the New Year by landing its first flight at LAX on January 1, with the official celebration taking 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 GG Gharachedaghi and Asa Soltan Rahmati. 

The star-studded 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 Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive Akbar Al Baker.

“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 appreciates 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 Qatar Airways. 

The guests were then invited on to the stage that has hosted the Academy Awards since 2002, to enjoy a dinner specially designed by Wolfgang Puck.

To cap off the evening, the guests then enjoyed a show-stopping performance by the global superstar Mariah Carey, who delighted the audience with her classic, signature style. The red carpet event also featured an incredible set of prize giveaways. To celebrate Qatar Airways’ 2016 brand campaign ‘Going Places Together’, the airline raffled pairs of Business Class tickets to any of the more than 150 destinations in its network.