- Flights will be operated initially with one weekly
frequency every Sunday - The airline recently announced the upcoming resumption of
flights to destinations including Maldives, Berlin, Prague, Toronto,
Kilimanjaro, Venice and Zanzibar
BEIJING, CHINA – Media
OutReach – 17 July
2020 – Qatar
Airways is pleased to announce that it will resume Guangzhou scheduled
passenger services with an initial one weekly flight starting 26 July. The Southern
China economic and commercial centre becomes the latest destination to join the
global network the airline is gradually rebuilding, in addition to the recently
announced flight resumptions to Bali, Maldives, Beirut, Belgrade, Berlin, Edinburgh,
Larnaca, Prague, Zagreb, Ankara, Zanzibar, Kilimanjaro, Bucharest, Sofia and Venice.
The much-anticipated resumption of Guangzhou passenger flights will
further enhance the airline’s commitment to the Chinese market by providing passengers
access between Doha, China and beyond via the airline’s award-winning hub,
Hamad International Airport (HIA), which was recently voted ‘Best Airport in
the Middle East’ for the sixth year in a row by the SKYTRAX World Airport Awards 2020.
Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, His Excellency Mr. Akbar Al Baker
said: “The resumption of Guangzhou passenger services is one of the significant
steps taken by Qatar Airways to demonstrate our confidence in the gradual
recovery of the regional travel market and global connectivity. Since the COVID-19
crisis started, we have challenged ourselves to be at the forefront and combat
the effects of this global pandemic, by volunteering our services to deliver worldwide
medical supplies coordinated by Chinese Embassies and Consulates.
“In addition to scheduled freighter services,
we have also operated a large number of charters and freight-only passenger
aircraft to meet China’s surging demand for imports and exports. With the
resumption of passenger flights, we will have 52 flights in total, comprising
of passenger freighters, belly-hold cargo flights and freighters in and out of
Mainland China each week, providing more than 2500 tonnes of weekly cargo
capacity each way.”
“Qatar Airways been closely working with the
local authorities to secure regulatory approval and ensure we are staying up to
date with the latest in airport procedures and the most advanced safety and
hygiene measures onboard. The return of Guangzhou in our international network will
help to re-establish the connection between Doha and China that directly
benefits our customers and trade partners. We continue to uphold our core mission
of being the trusted airline that gets people home safely and look forward to
further strengthening our schedule to China by increasing frequencies and
destinations as operating environment permits.”
The airline’s share of the passenger and air cargo market has grown
significantly over the past three months. Qatar Airways has remained in
operation throughout the COVID-19 crisis, and has operated a significant
schedule of over 17,000 flights, including over 300 special charters to more
than two million people home globally. The airline has also been running a
robust cargo operation globally, with up to 180 dedicated cargo flights daily,
and has transported over 580,000 tonnes of cargo all around the world.
During the past months, Qatar Airways Cargo has also worked closely with
governments and NGOs to transport over 250,000 tonnes of medical and aid
supplies to impacted regions around the world on both scheduled and charter
services. This equates to roughly 2,500 fully loaded Boeing 777 freighters.
Qatar Airways has further enhanced its onboard safety measures for
passengers and cabin crew, including the use of Personal Protective Equipment
(PPE) suits for cabin crew while onboard, as well as a modified service that
reduces interactions between the passengers and the crew inflight. Cabin Crew
have already been wearing PPE during flights, including gloves and facemasks. Recently,
Qatar Airways has also introduced new Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) kits for
passengers that include a facemask, disposable gloves and hand sanitiser. In
addition, passengers will be provided a face shield visor, available in adult
and children size, for their use in conjunction with facemask during flights.
The airline recently announced plans to
gradually rebuild its network in line with the evolution of passenger demand
and the expected relaxation of entry restrictions around the world. By the end
of July, the airline plans to expand its network to over 70 destinations. To
find out where the airline is still flying, visit https://qatarairways.com/en/travel-alerts/COVID-19-update.html.
Notes to Editors
Qatar Airways
is the national carrier of the State of Qatar. As a multiple award-winning
airline, Qatar Airways was named ‘World’s Best Airline’ by the 2019 World
Airline Awards, managed by international air transport rating organisation
Skytrax. It was also named ‘Best Airline in the Middle East’, ‘World’s Best
Business Class’ and ‘Best Business Class Seat’, in recognition of its
ground-breaking Business Class experience, Qsuite. Qatar Airways is the only
airline to have been awarded the coveted “Skytrax Airline of the Year” title,
which is recognised as the pinnacle of excellence in the airline industry, five
times.
Qsuite, a
patented Qatar Airways product, features the industry’s first-ever double bed
in Business Class, as well as privacy panels that stow away, allowing
passengers in adjoining seats to create their own private room, a first of its
kind in the industry.
Qatar Airways
was the first Gulf carrier to join global airline alliance oneworld, enabling
its passengers to benefit from more than 1,000 airports in more than 160
countries, with 14,250 daily departures.
Oryx One,
Qatar Airways’ in-flight entertainment system offers passengers up to 4,000
entertainment options from the latest blockbuster movies, TV box sets, music,
games and much more. Passengers flying on Qatar Airways flights served by its
B787, B777, A350, A380, A319 and select A320 and A330 aircraft can also stay in
touch with their friends and family around the world by using the award-winning
airline’s on-board Wi-Fi and GSM service.
Qatar Airways
proudly supports a range of exciting international and local initiatives
dedicated to enriching the global community that it serves. Qatar Airways, the
official FIFA partner, is the official sponsor of many top-level sporting
events, including the FIFA 2022 World Cup, reflecting the values of sports as a
means of bringing people together, something at the core of the airline’s own
brand message – Going Places Together.
Qatar Airways
Cargo, one of the world’s leading international air cargo carriers, serves more
than 60 freighter destinations worldwide via its world-class Doha hub and also
delivers freight to more than 160 key business and leisure destinations
globally on more than 250 aircraft. The Qatar Airways Cargo fleet includes two
Boeing 747-8 freighters, 21 Boeing 777 freighters and five Airbus A330
freighters.
Qatar
Executive is the private jet charter division of Qatar Airways Group. Luxury
jet services are available for worldwide charter on board the operator’s wholly-owned
business jet fleet. Qatar Executive is the launch customer for Gulfstream’s
G700, the world’s first commercial service operator of the Gulfstream G500 and
largest commercial operator of the G650ER worldwide. Qatar Executive’s service
portfolio also includes aircraft management, maintenance and Fixed Based
Operator services.
