Across five continents and more than 20 Grands Prix, the world’s most exciting sport traverses the globe year on year. Now, MotoGP™ will do so in partnership with Qatar Airways and Qatar Airways Cargo, joining the airline’s portfolio of premium sports partnerships. With nearly 170 destinations in its network, Qatar Airways’ seamless connectivity in various destinations across the world will be of great benefit to MotoGP™, the pinnacle of motorcycle racing.
This new multi-year partnership will see Qatar Airways provide passenger and cargo services for MotoGP™, including commercial tickets, charter flights for championship personnel and freight services supplied by Qatar Airways Cargo. In line with MotoGP™’s focus on efficiency within the calendar, this collaboration enables the sport to move more sustainably across the world, including the implementation of new and reduced freight boxes.
This agreement will also put the Qatar Airways name trackside at a number of venues on the calendar, including this weekend at Le Mans. The airline will then take top billing at one of the sport’s blue riband events with title sponsorship of the Qatar Airways Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix later this season, adding to their title sponsorship of their home Qatar Airways Grand Prix of Qatar in 2023 and 2024.
Further companies within the Qatar Airways group, including Qatar Duty free and the airline’s hub; Hamad International Airport in Doha, are also party to the agreement.
Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive Officer, Engr. Badr Mohammed Al-Meer: “Qatar continues to demonstrate its commitment to being a prominent hub for motorsports, and our new partnership with MotoGP only propels us forward. The Qatar Airways Grand Prix of Qatar was the perfect season opener for us to welcome this unique partnership that combines the worlds of aviation and motorsports. Qatar Airways’ and Qatar Airways Cargo’s global networks will serve as the perfect medium for fans to connect with their favourite racing teams and make the upcoming seasons truly exceptional.”
Mark Drusch, Chief Officer Cargo at Qatar Airways Cargo: “Qatar Airways Cargo is thrilled to announce our first major sports partnership as the Official Cargo Airline Partner for MotoGP. As the largest air cargo carrier in the world operating a global network on a modern fleet, we offer bespoke charter solutions for the air transport of race and bike equipment for MotoGP races. We are excited to strengthen our partnership with Dorna Sports and MotoGP.”
Carmelo Ezpeleta, CEO of MotoGP™ rights holder Dorna Sports: “We’re very happy to welcome Qatar Airways as official airline and confirm this new agreement. MotoGP is a global sport and to move across the world as we do, a partner like Qatar Airways has overwhelming value for our personnel, our freight and the whole paddock. Efficiency and excellence are words we live by and the same is true for Qatar Airways. There is no better partner to become the official airline of MotoGP.”
About Qatar Airways
A multiple award-winning airline, Qatar Airways won the ‘World’s Best Business Class’ for the tenth time at the 2023 World Airline Awards, managed by the international air transport rating organisation, Skytrax. The airline continues to be synonymous with excellence, also taking home, ‘Best Airline in the Middle East’, ‘World’s Best Business Class Lounge’ and ‘World’s Best Business Class Lounge Dining’ at the prestigious awards held during the 2023 Paris Air Show. Qatar Airways is an unprecedented seven-time winner of the ‘World’s Best Airline’ voted by Skytrax (2011, 2012, 2015, 2017, 2019, 2021 and 2022). As leaders in industry innovation and digital adoption, Qatar Airways was recently voted the ‘World’s Best Airline Website’ by World Travel Tech Awards.
Qatar Airways was the first Airline in the Middle East to be certified to the highest level of IATA’s Environmental Assessment (IEnvA) programme, based on recognised environmental management system principles (such as ISO 14001). As an inaugural signatory to the Buckingham Palace Declaration in March 2016, Qatar Airways became the first airline globally to be certified to the industry standard for the prevention of illegal wildlife trafficking in aviation.
Qatar Airways currently flies to nearly 170 destinations worldwide, connecting through its Doha hub, Hamad International Airport, the ‘World’s Best Airport’, as voted by Skytrax in 2021, 2022, and 2024. In 2024, Hamad International Airport also received the ‘Best Airport in the Middle East’ accolade for 10 consecutive years, as well as ‘World’s Best Airport Shopping’ for the second year in a row.
About Qatar Airways Cargo
Qatar Airways Cargo, the world’s leading international air cargo carrier is based in Doha, State of Qatar. It serves a global network of more than 70 freighter destinations and 170 passenger destinations utilising freighters and belly-hold passenger aircraft. The airline’s freighter fleet includes 28 Boeing 777 freighters and 230 belly-hold planes. It also has an extensive road feeder service (RFS) network. The cargo airline is the launch customer for the innovative Boeing 777-8F featuring advanced technology, and a 25% improvement in fuel efficiency and emissions, with the first delivery arriving in 2027.
As a market leader, the cargo carrier provides high operating standards for the transportation of cargo, with considerable investments in digitalisation, products, facilities and services. Qatar Airways Cargo remains committed to sustainability and giving back to communities it serves through its sustainability programme WeQare, built on the key pillars of sustainability: environment, society, economy and culture.
