Qatar Airways celebrates opening of new state-of-the-art engine facility
By: Times News Service
Doha: Qatar Airways celebrated the opening of a new state-of-the-art engine facility as part of the vision to streamline the cost of its technical maintenance operations by more than $2.2m per year, further supporting the airline’s growth despite the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Located in the Qatar Airways Technical Maintenance complex, the new 9,000 sq. ft. Engine Facility was officially opened by the Minister of Transport and Communications Jassim Saif Ahmed Al-Sulaiti, in the presence of the President of the Qatar Civil Aviation Authority, Abdulla Nasser Turki Al Subaey, and Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, Akbar Al Baker, along with other senior officials and VIPs.
Tourism for vaccinated people, a decision as controversial as it is necessary
The volume of vaccinated in various source markets in North America, the East, the Middle East and Europe has been growing rapidly in recent weeks and both airlines and cruise companies have already taken note and see this situation as a solid opportunity to partially reactivate their operations with specific services. that allow their fallen coffers to swell.
In mid-March, Royal Caribbean was the first company to mark a milestone in this regard, announcing that it will offer new 7-night itineraries from Nassau, The Bahamas, starting in June 2021, but only for clients who have been inoculated with any of the vaccines. against Covid-19. A few days later, then the firm added a new 7-night itinerary from Bermuda under the same modality.
Qatar Airways to operate world’s first fully COVID-19 vaccinated flight
By: Times News Service
DOHA: Qatar Airways continues to lead the recovery of international travel, operating the world’s first fully COVID-19 vaccinated flight today. QR6421 will depart Hamad International Airport at 11:00 AM carrying only vaccinated crew and passengers on board, with passengers also to be served by the fully vaccinated staff at check-in.
The special flight, which will return to Doha at 14:00, will showcase all the measures the airline has put in place to ensure the highest standards of safety and hygiene on board, including its latest innovation, the world’s first ‘Zero-Touch’ in-flight entertainment technology. The special service will be operated by the airline’s most technologically advanced and sustainable aircraft, the Airbus A350-1000, with the flight also fully carbon offset in line with the carrier’s environmental responsibilities.
Sustainable travel
Akbar Al Baker, CEO of Qatar Airways Group
The coronavirus pandemic may be reshaping the airline industry, but sustainability is a key factor influencing the future. How will airlines balance the need to go green with getting back in the black? Akbar Al Baker, CEO, of Qatar Airways Group talks to Tanya Beckett.
The flight on an Airbus A350-1000 was to promote the airline’s safety and hygiene measures, including new innovations such as the world’s first “zero-touch” entertainment technology, which allows users to select movies and music after pairing their mobile phones with the inflight system through a QR code. Masks were still required for all passengers and crew, except when eating and drinking. There were also empty seats between flyers to allow for social distancing.
Forbes reports that the airline also supported the “flight to nowhere” through its carbon offset programme. Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, Akbar Al Baker, says the flight showed that “the recovery of international travel is not far away .