QATAR. In an extraordinary gesture, Qatar Airways is giving away 100,000 free tickets to frontline healthcare professionals to say thank you for their “heroic” work looking after people during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Qatar Airways said: “By maintaining 24/7 operations in recent months, including the provision of over 100 charter flights, Qatar Airways’ mission to repatriate over one million people has received widespread praise and thanks from passengers and governments as the foremost airline taking people home.
“Given the airline’s work at the frontline of global efforts to repatriate stranded passengers, it now seeks to recognise and reward the world’s frontline healthcare workers.”
The giveaway will open at 00.01 a.m. tomorrow (12 May) and close at 23:59 on 18 May (Doha time). Appropriately, 12 May is International Nurses Day, and celebrates the contribution that nurses make to societies around the world. It is the birthday of the world’s most famous nurse, Florence Nightingale.
| Strict inflight hygience Qatar Airways said that it maintains the highest possible hygiene standards. Its protocols include the regular disinfection of aircraft, the use of cleaning products recommended by the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and the World Health Organization (WHO), and thermal screening of crew. In addition, aircraft feature the most advanced air filtration systems, equipped with industrial-size HEPA filters that remove 99.97% of viral and bacterial contaminants from re-circulated air, providing the most effective protection against infection, Qatar Airways said. All onboard linen and blankets are washed, dried and pressed at microbial lethal temperatures, while its headsets are removed of ear foams and rigorously sanitised after each flight. These items are then sealed into individual packaging by staff wearing hygienic disposable gloves. Qatar Aircraft Catering Company (QACC) was the first organisation in the world last year to achieve ISO22000:2018 certification from Bureau Veritas with UKAS accreditation, confirming its Food Safety Management System meets the highest standards. All meal service utensils and cutlery are washed with detergents and rinsed with demineralized fresh water at temperatures that kill pathogenic bacteria. All sanitised equipment is handled by staff wearing hygienic disposable gloves, while cutlery is individually re-packed. |
Healthcare professionals can register for this exclusive offer at qatarairways.com/ThankYouHeroes by submitting a form to receive a unique promotion code, offered on a first-come, first-served basis.
Healthcare professionals from every country in the world will be eligible for tickets. To ensure the application process is fair and transparent, each country will receive a daily allocation of tickets, depending on its population size, staggered over a seven-day period from 12 to 18 May. The daily allocation will be released at 00:01 a.m. Doha time throughout the campaign period.
The 100,000 healthcare professionals that receive the promotion code can book up to two complimentary economy class return tickets on Qatar Airways operated flights – one for themselves and one for a companion – to anywhere on the airline’s global network. Tickets must be booked before 26 November, with travel valid until 10 December 2020.
The tickets will be fully flexible, with an unlimited number of destination or date changes allowed without any fees. Fare and surcharges will be waived on tickets, airport taxes apply.*
Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, His Excellency Mr. Akbar Al Baker, said: “We at Qatar Airways are incredibly grateful for the commitment and hard work of healthcare professionals around the world who looked after people in these times of uncertainty. Their heroic display of kindness, dedication, and professionalism has saved hundreds of thousands of lives around the world.
“We have built a strong level of trust with passengers, governments, trade partners, and airports as a reliable partner during this crisis and we intend to continue delivering on this mission by acknowledging the incredible efforts of these heroes. Our crew and operation has never given up during these past three months, never abandoned hope or their mission to help people get home to their loved ones and we do not intend to do so now.
“United in dedication, we share our gratitude. Now it is our turn to give something back to those on the healthcare frontline. There are no words or gestures that are enough to repay these brave men and women but we hope that our small offer of a complimentary return flight on Qatar Airways will allow them to enjoy a well-deserved holiday, visit family and friends or explore a destination they have always dreamed of, as travel restrictions start to ease.”
As a further gesture of appreciation, healthcare professionals will also be offered a -35% discount voucher to redeem at Qatar Duty Free retail outlets at the state-of-the-art Hamad International Airport in Doha, valid until 31 December 2020.**
As reported, Qatar Airways announced recently that it has begun a phased approach to expanding its network in line with passenger demand evolution and the expected relaxation of entry restrictions around the world. It aims to rebuild its network to an initial 52 destinations by the end of May and 80 in June.
Footnote: In other breaking news today. Hamad International Airport has been ranked the Third Best Airport in the World, among 550 airports worldwide, by the Skytrax World Airport Awards 2020, up one place from last year.
Hamad International Airport Chief Operating Officer Engr. Badr Mohammed Al Meer said: “Every year that we move up the ranks is particularly rewarding as this honour comes directly from our passengers who have shared their experiences travelling through our airport through Skytrax surveys. Despite all the challenges that the aviation sector faces today, we are committed to our primary role of helping travellers reach their home countries safely.” Full story coming soon.
| Qatar Airways and Qatar Duty Free show leadership and compassion in crisis Qatar Airways has shown its stature, capabilities and compassion to impressive effect during the COVID-19 crisis, maintaining flights all over the world in its mission to get people home. The airline has successfully flown over one million passengers home — on both scheduled and chartered flights — and transported 70,000 tonnes of medical supplies amid the COVID-19 global health emergency.
The Qatar Airways super heroes who will bring you home Take a moment to watch and listen to the beautiful tribute below from Qatar Airways to its cabin crew. The airline prefaces the film by saying: “We are so proud of QatarAirways’ cabin crew who are continuing to serve in the midst of this challenging time, just knowing that it will make a difference to somebody out there.” #TakingYouHome Let us quote you the words of one of the cabin crew interviewed on the short film. It tells its own beautiful story. She says simply, “We will bring you home.” Helping China at a time of crisis In February, when the COVID-19 crisis was at its peak in China, Qatar Airways volunteered free air cargo transportation for medical relief organised by Chinese embassies and consulates to help fight the outbreak. The airline flew medical supplies donated by Chinese communities worldwide through its network of 170 destinations to cargo gateways in Shanghai, Guangzhou, Hong Kong and Macau.  Qatar Duty Free frontliners show their community spirit Qatar Duty Free management (led by Vice President Operations Thabet Musleh) and staff embraced The Moodie Davitt Report’s recent call to join together and applaud the work of the medical community worldwide – especially the doctors, nurses and other frontline staff involved helping the world deal with the COVID-19 pandemic. Taking our cue from individual initiatives across the world, The Moodie Davitt Report asked members of the industry community, whether at home in isolation or at work in offices, downtown stores or at airports, to join a worldwide burst of applause on 31 March (#ClapforourCarersTravelRetail). As you can see, Qatar Duty Free was there in the front line. |
* This offer is only available for QR-operated flights. Eligible healthcare professions are limited to: Doctors, Medical practitioners, nurses, paramedics, pharmacists, lab technicians and clinical researchers. A valid employer ID must be presented at the airport at the point of check in.
** Certain conditions apply, see in-store for details, valid until 31 December 2020.
