From CNN Business:
“American Airlines CEO Doug Parker said late Wednesday that the airline has no choice but to cut 19,000 jobs after attempts to get more federal money failed. United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby said the decision to cut 13,000 jobs marked “a very sad day for all of us here at United.”
Flughafen Berlin Brandenburg has made this announcement:
Air France was the first civil airline to land at Berlin-Tegel Airport and it will also be the last to take-off from there: on 2 January 1960, an Air France aircraft taxied over the airport runway for the first time, which until then had only been used by the military. 60 years later, on 8 November 2020, AF1235 to Paris-Charles de Gaulle will say adieu to Tegel as the last flight.
On 8 November 2020, Air France will take-off twice from the new Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER) to Paris-Charles de Gaulle. The third Air France flight, AF1235, will be the last airline to leave Berlin-Tegel Airport at 3 pm. An Airbus A320 will be used on the historic route.
Engelbert Lรผtke Daldrup, Chief Executive Officer of Flughafen Berlin Brandenburg GmbH:
โThe long and eventful history of flight operations at Tegel is more closely linked to Air France than hardly any other airline. The airline began this era of civil aviation at Tegel in January 1960, was there at the opening of the famous airport on 1 November 1974 with one of the largest aircraft in the world at the time, an Airbus A300-B2, and will take-off on the very last flight from TXL on 8 November. It is hard to imagine a more appropriate farewell from this airport than on an Air France flight. I would like to thank the airline for immediately accepting our offer to be the last flight and I look forward to continuing our cooperation with Air France/KLM at BERโs Terminal 1.โ
Stefan Gumuseli, General Manager Germany AIR FRANCE KLM:
โAir France has the honour of being the last airline to say goodbye to Berlin-Tegel Airport with flight AF1235 from Tegel to Paris and in doing so, closes an important chapter in Franco-German aviation friendship. With the connection to Tegel, Air France has contributed to the rapprochement between Germany and France for 60 years. The flights from the new BER Airport mark the opening a new chapter and we are looking forward to continuing the traditional connection from Paris to Berlin.โ
Passengers who would like to experience the last Air France flight from Tegel live will receive a 60 euro discount (http://bit.ly/BYETXL) for tickets from Berlin to a European destination of their choice*. Those flying back from Paris to Berlin on the same day can take AF1134 at 8:40 pm arriving at BER Airport at 10:25 pm. Air France has come up with a few surprises for its passengers both before and during the flight from Tegel to Paris.
*Only valid for departures from Berlin-Tegel on 8 November 2020, bookable on the Air France website
Video of Air Franceโs first landing at Berlin-Tegel: https://twitter.com/i/status/1081192312741478400
Alaska Airlines has made this announcement:
To help guests prepare for Hawaii’s pre-travel testing program, Alaska Airlines will partner with Carbon Health to offer rapid COVID-19 testing at its pop-up clinics across the West Coast, starting Oct. 12 in Seattle. Hawaii will begin to welcome back visitors on Oct. 15 by allowing out-of-state travelers to enjoy the islands without a 14-day quarantine when they test negative for COVID-19 within 72 hours of their final leg of departure to Hawaii.
Tech-enabled health care provider Carbon Healthย will make rapid COVID-19 testing available at its pop-up clinic located in downtown Seattle at 220 6th Avenue North. Guests will be able to make an appointment with Carbon Health starting Oct. 8, with priority testing for Alaska Airlines flyers on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. PDT, starting on Oct. 12. Test results will be ready within two hours at a discounted cost of $135. More information, including how to schedule an appointment, will be available after Oct. 5 at alaskaair.com/hawaii-bound.
At this time, testing will be offered in Seattle, as the airline has focused the full return of twice-daily flights to all four major Hawaiian Islands from its largest hub starting Oct. 15. Additionally, on Nov. 1, nonstop service to Hawaii will resume from Portland, Oregon; San Jose, California; and San Diego, California. Hawaii service will begin from Anchorage, Alaska, and Los Angeles on Nov. 20. Carbon Health is planning additional pop-up and full-service clinics for rapid COVID-19 testing in those Lower 48 cities in the coming weeks.
Carbon Health utilizes the Abbott ID NOW rapid test, whichย meets the requirements of the State of Hawaii’s pre-travel testing program. The company will work closely with the Hawaii Department of Health to meet the state’s Trusted Testing Partner requirements. Testing will be available for all Alaska guests โ of any age over three months old โ as well as for travelers to the state of Alaska, which also has a 72-hour testing requirement.
Alaska Airlines will continue to share available testing options with guests, including the State of Hawaii’s trusted testing partners, as the airline continues to expand its list of testing providers. In addition, Alaska has been working closely with the Port of Seattle on developing future opportunities for on-site testing at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport.
With a continued focus on keeping our guests and employees safe, Alaska has implemented nearly 100 safety measures, as part of the airline’s commitment to Next-Level Care. The airline emphasizes a layered approach to safety, which starts with the requirement that all employees and guests wear a face mask or covering through the airport and on board, with no exceptions. Flyers must also enter into a health agreement at check-in to confirm that they are not experiencing COVID-19 symptoms and will adhere to the mask policy. Alaska has also extended physical distancing on board by limiting the number of guests and blocking middle seats through Nov. 30, 2020 and extended its flexible travel policy for all new ticket purchases, including Saver fares, through Dec. 31, 2020.
Alaska Airlines aircraft photo gallery (Boeing):
Air Canada said today that it is finalizing an initial order of Abbott’s ID NOW COVID-19 rapid response tests as part of its ongoing evaluation of COVID-19 testing technology and protocols. The airline, which last month partnered with McMaster Health Labs (MHL) and the Greater Toronto Airports Authority (GTAA) in a study of arriving international travellers at Toronto-Pearson, said preliminary results from the study indicate testing can help protect customers and facilitate the safe relaxation of government travel restrictions.
“Air Canada continues to explore various options for testing for COVID-19 and we are finalizing an initial order from Abbott for 25,000 rapid test kits for voluntary employee testing now that it has been approved for use in Canada. Understanding that we will need to live alongside this virus for the short- to medium-term, we have been pursuing relationships and a layered approach as a way to keep our employees and our customers safe.ย We believe testing will be key to protecting employees and customers until such time as a COVID-19 vaccine is available. Rapid testing is also a means to enable governments to relax current blanket travel restrictions and quarantines in a measured way while still safeguarding the health and safety of the public,” said Dr. Jim Chung, Air Canada’s Chief Medical Officer.
“We are further encouraged in our belief in the effectiveness of testing, including self-administered testing, by the preliminary results from our partnership with MHL and the GTAA. The preliminary results suggest a shorter, test-based strategy may be an available and safe alternative to the 14-day quarantine.”
Since the Toronto-Pearson study began September 3, MHL has conducted nearly 13,000 tests of returning international travellers who volunteered to participate. Of those more than 99% have tested negative for COVID-19 with less than 1% having indicated COVID-19. Of the less than 1% indicating COVID-19, more than 80% are being detected in the initial test and the rest on the Day 7 test, with none being detected by the Day 14 test.
Air Canada aircraft photo gallery:
Swiss International Air Lines made this announcement:
Swissย will be restoring several more destinations to its flight schedules from Zurich and Geneva in the coming 2020/21 winter timetable period. As a result, some 85 percent of the airlineโs previous route network will now receive Swiss service. In view of the numerous current travel restrictions and quarantine provisions, however, the new schedules will offer only 30 to (at the most) 40 percent of the capacities provided for the same period last year. Swissโs initially planned 2020/21 winter schedules have had to be substantially downwardly revised, and the capacity levels originally envisaged for October will now only be achieved towards the end of the coming winter period. Further adjustments may also be required, depending primarily on future global developments on the quarantine front. Swiss continues to advocate the adoption of rapid-result COVID-19 testing capabilities, to make travel a viable option again and ensure international mobility.
In these still highly challenging times, Swiss International Air Lines (SWISS) remains resolved to keep Switzerland optimally connected with the world and to continue to offer a range of air services that are as robust and extensive as possible in the coming 2020/21 winter timetable period. Such scheduling is proving increasingly challenging, however, in view of the various and ever-changing restrictions on international mobility. โAs a result of the current pandemicโs global development and the associated travel restrictions and quarantine provisions instead of effective corona test procedures, the schedules we have devised for the coming winter timetable period are well below our original expectations,โ concedes SWISS Chief Commercial Officer Tamur Goudarzi Pour.
While production for the period had been planned to be as high as 50 percent of its prior-year level until just a few weeks ago, the latest developments have prompted a reduction in capacity to only 30 to (at the most) 40 percent of that of last year. Swiss aims to serve some 85 percent of its established destinations in the coming winter timetable period, with 67 served from Zurich and 21 from Geneva.
A sizeable long-haul network thanks to still-strong cargo demand
On the long-haul front, SWISS will resume scheduled service to Boston (USA) from October onwards. The route will initially receive twice-weekly service, rising to thrice-weekly from March 2021. Johannesburg (South Africa) will also see SWISS services restored with three weekly frequencies. SWISS will further provide three weekly flights on the Zurich-Dubai (UAE) route from the end of October, which should rise to at least five weekly services in the medium term. Muscat will in future be served non-stop from Zurich with an Edelweiss flight. SWISS also plans to perform three weekly flights each to Los Angeles and Miami in the USA and to Delhi in India from March 2021.
Service will be continued on the existing long-haul routes between Zurich and Newark, New York JFK, Chicago, San Francisco, Montreal, Sรฃo Paulo, Tel Aviv, Mumbai, Bangkok, Singapore, Tokyo, Hong Kong and Shanghai. SWISS is primarily able to offer such a range of long-haul services thanks to the continuing strong demand for cargo transportation on the routes concerned.
The African destinations of Nairobi (Kenya) and Dar es Salaam (Tanzania) will not be served in Winter 2020/21.
Additional European destinations for the Christmas period
Despite all the present uncertainties, SWISS expects to add the following short-haul destinations to its Zurich-based network in its coming winter schedules: Munich and Wroclaw (Poland) from the end of October; Luxembourg, Birmingham, London City and Nuremberg from February 2021; and Graz from March 2021. In the Christmas period, which traditionally sees high leisure travel volumes, services will also be added to Palma de Mallorca, Bilbao, Sylt, Naples and Thessaloniki.
From Geneva SWISS will offer nonstop services to Priลกtina from the beginning of October and to Marrakech from mid-October. Prague will be added at the end of October and Moscow at the beginning of November. Mid-December will see services from Geneva resumed to Malaga, Valencia, Stockholm, Gothenburg, Dublin, Hurghada, Kittilรค (Finland), St. Petersburg and London Gatwick. And non-stop SWISS services between Geneva and London City will be restored from February 2021. London Heathrow, Frankfurt and Moscow are among the destinations with the most frequencies from Geneva in the coming winter timetable period.
Swiss aircraft photo gallery:
American Airlines has made this announcement:
Testing can further aid customer health and safety while helping to reopen markets to tourism
As part of an ongoing effort to help protect customer health and safety, inspire confidence in air travel and advance the industryโs recovery from the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, American Airlines is collaborating with several foreign governments to begin offering preflight COVID-19 testing for customers traveling to international destinations, starting with Jamaica and the Bahamas. The carrier plans to expand the program to additional markets in the weeks and months ahead.
โThe pandemic has changed our business in ways we never could have expected, but all the while, the entire American Airlines team has eagerly tackled the challenge of reimagining the way we deliver a safe, healthy and enjoyable travel experience for our customers,โ said Robert Isom, President of American Airlines. โOur plan for this initial phase of preflight testing reflects the ingenuity and care our team is putting into rebuilding confidence in air travel, and we view this as an important step in our work to accelerate an eventual recovery of demand.โ
American has reached agreement with Jamaica to launch an initial testing program at its Miami International Airport (MIA) hub next month. The initial phase of testing will be for Jamaican residents traveling to their home country. If a passenger tests negative for COVID-19 ahead of flying with American, the 14-day quarantine currently in place for returning Jamaican residents would be waived. Following a successful pilot program, the objective is to open this testing protocol for all passengers traveling to Jamaica, including U.S. citizens. The timing of such a potential announcement is to be determined.
โI thank American Airlines for initiating these efforts to ensure safety and confidence for travelers from the United States, and for leading with Jamaica as a pilot for its COVID-19 testing program,โ said Audrey Marks, Ambassador of Jamaica to the United States. โThis is timely, given the governmentโs ongoing review in cooperation with the Global Initiative for Health and Safety group of the current protocols governing travel to the island, and it could be a game-changer, not just for tourism, but also for other key sectors of the economy that have been negatively impacted by the ongoing pandemic.โ
American also has started working with the Bahamas and CARICOM to launch similar testing programs that would allow travel to the region. Americanโs next international program will be with the Bahamas and is expected to launch next month. Details on the protocols for that country will follow.
โWe are so pleased that American Airlines has included The Bahamas in their preflight testing program and for their continued commitment to mitigating the spread of coronavirus,โ said Dionisio DโAguilar, Minister of Tourism and Aviation for the Bahamas. โMiami is a major gateway to our islands, and we believe predeparture testing will create important efficiencies, while ensuring the health and safety of both our visitors and residents.โ
As its initial preflight testing programs begin to launch, American is also actively engaged with CARICOM, an integrated grouping of 20 Caribbean countries, about expanding the program to additional Caribbean markets.
โWe are pleased that American Airlines has taken the lead to initiate this exciting COVID-19 predeparture testing program,โ said Ralph Gonsalves, Prime Minister of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, and Chairman of CARICOM. โThe Caribbean Community welcomes this important progress to re-open markets with the health and safety of our citizens being of paramount importance, and weโll be monitoring this program very closely as it ramps up in our region.โ
In addition to its efforts in opening international markets to travel, American has been working with the government of Hawaii to develop a series of options that fit the Hawaiian requirements for travel to the state. Starting Oct. 15, the airline will begin a preflight COVID-19 testing program at its Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) hub for customers traveling to Hawaii, in partnership with LetsGetChecked, CareNow and the DFW Airport.
Beginning next month, American will offer three options for preflight testing to customers with flights from DFW to Honolulu (HNL) and Maui (OGG):
Testing must be completed within 72 hours of the final leg of departure. Travelers who test negative will be exempt from the stateโs 14-day quarantine.
Americanโs Clean Commitment
Americanโs preflight testing program will serve as a key element of the airlineโs Clean Commitment, a multifaceted approach to giving customers peace of mind when they travel. American has also launched a travel tool, powered by Sherpa, to make travel planning easier for customers who are eager to reconnect with the people and places that matter most.
About LetsGetChecked
LetsGetChecked is a direct-to-consumer at-home health testing and insights company. Offering an end-to-end model, LetsGetCheckedโs Sure-track Test offers consumers an FDA EUA-authorized Coronavirus at-home testing solution. The at-home Coronavirus (COVID-19) test incorporates a nasal swab and PCR lab analysis, offering convenient and secure results on average 48 hours upon receipt in the lab.
About CareNowยฎ
Since 1993, CareNow has been committed to providing high-quality family care, urgent care and occupational medicine services in the North Texas area. Open seven days a week and weeknights until 9 p.m., CareNow has over 40 North Texas locations providing convenient, quality and cost-effective urgent care and is accredited by AAAHC and UCA. CareNow is affiliated with Medical City Healthcare. Medical City Healthcare has 46 urgent care centers in North Texas: CareNow (42) and Medical City Childrenโs Urgent Care (4).
Bermuda Tourism Authority has issued this statement:
Direct air service to Bermuda will originate from London Heathrow beginning March 28, 2021 announced jointly today by the Bermuda Ministry of Transport andย British Airways (BA). ย Tickets are now on sale, with return fares from as low as $876 USD.
This new service, operating a minimum of four times weekly and much as daily, will openย a wideย and diverseย range of flight connections for thoseย travelling to and from Bermuda. While current demand for flights to Bermudaย emanatesย mainlyย fromย the UK, Heathrow flightsย haveย the potential to stimulateย significantly greater demandย fromย the rest of the world, particularlyย European cities.
The flights will depart from Bermuda from the new airport terminal scheduled to open in December 2020 at 20:10, landing at London Heathrow at 06:55 the next day. The route will be operated by a Boeing 777-200, which will soon feature the airline’s new Club Suite offering direct-aisle access, a suite door for greater privacy and luxurious flat-bed seats in a 1-2-1 configuration.
British Airways aircraft photo gallery:
Allegiant Air has announced that, through October, it will donate a portion of proceeds from the sale of pink in-flight refreshments to the National Breast Cancer Foundation, Inc.ยฎ (NBCF).
This is the seventh year that the Las Vegas-based airline will hold its annual in-flight fundraiser in support of the foundation. In that time, Allegiant has donated more than $100,000 to support NBCF’s mission, which is to provide help and inspire hope to those affected by breast cancer through early detection, education, and support services.
Pink refreshments โ pink lemonade and rosรฉ wine โ will be available for passengers to purchase on all Allegiant flights during October. Crew members will also don special pink attire to demonstrate their support for the cause.
“October is a special time for our flight crew members,” said Tracy Tulle, Allegiant’s senior vice president of flight crew operations. “Many of them have either battled breast cancer themselves or had a loved one who was affected. They’re excited to help raise money for a cause that is so personally important to them. And our customers appreciate the chance to support the cause simply by buying a pink drink or making a donation onboard. We’re proud to have the chance to help fight this disease along with our partners at the National Breast Cancer Foundation.”
Breast cancer is among the leading health issues women face in the United States. One in eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in her lifetime. There is currently no known cure for it. Early diagnosis and timely treatment is critical to survival.
NBCF supports the communities where Allegiant operates by funding outreach and treatment programs at local hospitals in cities such as Las Vegas, Tampa, and Los Angeles. Among the programs their grants fund are screenings and treatment for uninsured and underinsured women.
“We are humbled by the generosity and unwavering commitment of Allegiant, even in the midst of an unprecedented year of challenge,” said Ken Rameriz, NBCF’s senior vice president of strategic partnerships and charitable giving. “Breast cancer does not pause for pandemics, and neither does National Breast Cancer Foundation. Together with partners like Allegiant, we are more committed than ever to providing help and inspiring hope to those affected by breast cancer.”
The pink refreshments that will be available for passengers to purchase on Allegiant flights include Minute Maid Pink Lemonade for $5 and Yes Way Rosรฉ for $10.
In-flight crews have the option of wearing pink scarves, ties, belts, lanyards and other pink-themed apparel during October flights.
Singapore Airlines (SIA) today launched the Discover Your Singapore Airlines suite of experiences, which comprises three exciting and all-new initiatives that have been specially curated for our customers and fans in Singapore over the next few weeks.
Restaurant A380 @Changi offers an exclusive dining experience with SIAโs award-winning service inside the Airbus A380, the worldโs largest passenger aircraft. Diners can choose from special menus for each cabin class. Options include our signature international cuisine, as well as the best dishes from our special Peranakan menu that has been designed by acclaimed Singaporean chef Shermay Lee. Limited slots for an exclusive pre-lunch tour of the A380 will also be available. All diners will receive KrisShop discounts, a limited edition goodie bag and additional gifts if they turn up in traditional heritage wear. Reservations start on 12 October 2020, and Restaurant A380 @Changi will operate on 24 and 25 October 2020.
Over two weekends in November during the school holidays, Inside Singapore Airlines will provide an exclusive behind-the-scenes tour of our training facilities with a wide range of activities for the entire family. Visitors will be brought on a tour of more than 70 years of SIAโs history, get an opportunity to interact with our pilots and cabin crew, and find out more about the intensive training that they undergo.
Children can enjoy craft activities such as balloon sculpting and making their own batik roses. They will also have the option to dress up and role play as cabin crew, and take home their very own SIA sarong kebaya uniform. Adults can choose to operate a full flight simulator, taste some of our premium in-flight wine labels, and attend a grooming workshop. A selection of the most popular meals that are served on board SIA flights will also be on sale. Bookings open on 1 November 2020, and the tours will be held on 21, 22, 28 and 29 November 2020.
SIA@Home is for customers who are keen to enjoy the world-renowned SIA in-flight dining experience in the comfort of their own home. They can choose from 10 menus featuring our exclusive First Class and Business Class meals, which will come complete with wine or champagne. Limited edition dining ware and amenities are also available depending on the package chosen. The special cabin crew concierge service for SIA@Home bookings opens on 5 October 2020.
SIA will implement enhanced cleaning procedures at all premises, as well as precautionary measures such as temperature screening, safe distancing and the SafeEntry digital check-in system, to ensure the health and safety of all customers.
The Discover Your Singapore Airlines experiences are the result of a market study and a comprehensive review, which also considered factors such as the attractiveness of the initiatives to SIAโs customers and members of the public, the environmental implications, and their financial viability. An idea for a one-off short tour flight, or a โflight to nowhereโ, was also initially considered but not pursued after the review.
โWith Covid-19 drastically reducing the number of flights operated by the SIA Group, we have created unique activities that would allow us to engage with our fans and customers during this time. These experiences offer something for everyone โ from frequent flyers who miss our world-class in-cabin products and service, to couples and families who want an exclusive dining experience, and parents who are after an enjoyable activity-filled day with their children during the school holidays,โ said SIA Chief Executive Officer Mr Goh Choon Phong.
โThere has been a lot of interest in our customer engagement initiatives over the last few weeks, and I would like to thank everyone for their great ideas and suggestions. We are very encouraged by and grateful for the enthusiasm and passion that we have seen. All of us are eagerly looking forward to welcoming you to discover your Singapore Airlines.โ
Qatar Airways becomes the first global carrier to operate Honeywellโs Ultraviolet (UV) Cabin System, further advancing its hygiene measures onboard. In clinical tests, UV light has been shown to be capable of inactivating various viruses and bacteria when properly applied.
Approximately the size of a beverage cart,ย the Honeywell UV Cabin System, which is operated by Qatar Aviation Services (QAS), has extendable UV arms that treat aircraft seats, surfaces and cabins without using cleaning chemicals.
Having already received six of the Honeywell UV Cabin System, the devices have undergone comprehensive testing onboard Qatar Airways aircraft, before entering service. The airline aims to acquire additional units in the near future, in order to operate them onboard all aircraft turnarounds at Hamad International Airport (HIA).
Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, His Excellency Mr. Akbar Al Baker, said: โWe are pleased to be the first global airline to operate the Honeywell UV Cabin System onboard our aircraft. In clinical tests, UV light has been shown to be capable of inactivating various viruses and bacteria when properly applied at specified doses.
โDuring these unprecedented times, the health and safety of our crew and passengers continues to be of the utmost importance. Since the start of the pandemic, we have been regularly introducing new and effective safety and hygiene measures onboard our aircraft, based on our unparalleled expertise of flying consistently throughout.โ
Honeywell Aerospace President EMEAI, Mr. James Currier, said: โHoneywell has technology today that can make air travel safer โ from the traveller to the airport worker, throughout the airport and onboard the aircraft. Weโre working across business lines to develop new products such as Honeywell ThermoRebellion, a new temperature-monitoring solution – Environmental Control System Check, which allows airlines to monitor air flow in the cabin, and an array of Personal Protective Equipment. All this allows for cleaner and safer airports.โ
Qatar Airwaysโ aircraft will continue to be regularly disinfected using cleaning products recommended by the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and the World Health Organization (WHO). The Honeywell UV Cabin System will be utilised as an additional step after manual disinfection, to ensure the very highest standards of cleanliness. The airlineโs onboard linen and blankets will continue to be washed, dried and pressed at microbial lethal temperatures, while its headsets are rigorously sanitised after each flight. These items are then sealed into individual packaging by staff wearing hygienic disposable gloves.
Qatar Airwaysโ aircraft also 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.
In July, Qatar Airways further increased its health and safety measures onboard by introducing new personal protective equipment (PPE) for customers and cabin crew. The airlineโs robust measures included offering face shields to all passengers, in addition to a disposable protective gown for cabin crew, which is fitted over their uniforms, in addition to safety glasses, gloves and a mask.
Onboard, all Qatar Airways passengers are provided with a complimentary protective kit. Inside a ziplock pouch, a single-use face mask, large disposable powder-free gloves and an alcohol-based hand sanitiser gel are offered. Business Class customers also receive an additional 75ml sanitiser gel tube. In addition, for aircraft equipped with Qsuite, Qatar Airwaysโ award-winning business seat, Business Class customers are offered even greater privacy with sliding partitions and fully closing doors, and an option to display a โDo Not Disturb (DND)โ indicator if they wish to limit their interactions with cabin crew.
Since the start of the COVID-19 crisis, the airline has also applied other additional health and safety measures on-board its flights. Business Class meals are served covered on a tray instead of a table set up, and a cutlery wrap is offered to passengers as an alternative to individual cutlery service, in an effort to minimise contact between crew and passengers. Qatar Airways has also introduced single-use menu cards and sealed refreshing wipes. Economy Class meals and cutlery are served sealed as usual, and menu cards have been temporarily discontinued. All social areas onboard the aircraft have been closed adhering to social distancing measures.
HIA, the airlineโs hub in Doha, has also introduced UV-C disinfectant robots which are fully autonomous mobile devices emitting concentrated UV-C light, and are deployed in high passenger flow areas to reduce the spread of pathogens. The Oryx Airport Hotel at HIA has also implemented UV-C light to monitor and ensure a thorough cleaning process across all rooms, using a pen only visible under UV light to mark frequent touchpoints.ย The marked areas undergo the highest levels of sanitisation before being checked and analysed, allowing the hotel management to further enhance its cleaning techniques and standards.
In addition, HIA has implemented stringent cleaning procedures and applied social distancing measures throughout its terminals. All passenger touchpoints are sanitized every 10-15 minutes and every boarding gate and bus gate counter is cleaned after each flight. Hand sanitizers are provided at immigration and security screening points.
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