Qatar Airways has announced its plan for a phased approach to expanding route network in line with passenger demand evolution and with the expected relaxation of entry restrictions around the world.
In a press statement, the airline said that they were able to maintain flights to at least 30 destinations during this crisis and had helped bring over 1 million people home as they closely monitor global passenger flows and booking trends to build up the confidence to begin planning the gradual reintroduction of additional flights and destinations to its network.
“Throughout this crisis, our passengers have been at the center of our focus. Our airline has implemented industry-leading hygiene practices and commercial policies enabling our passengers to book and travel with confidence. We have maintained a flexible and agile network to help take over 1 million people home through our state of the art hub in Doha and to transport more than 100,000 tonnes of essential medical and aid supplies to where they are needed,” according to Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive His Excellency Mr. Akbar Al Baker.
While the situation remains hugely dynamic, Qatar Airways has made a number of assumptions based on its unique perspective, having been one of the only carriers to operate globally in recent months. With entry restrictions constantly evolving, accurately predicting future travel is challenging. However, while the expectation is that short-haul travel will rebound first, the business between large global cities will pick up more gradually and there will be a move towards visiting family and friends following months of lockdowns.
The airline said that they will take full advantage of its diverse and efficient fleet with the right aircraft size to ensure the best fit for expected demand on each planned route. By the end of June this year, they aim of having 80 destinations in the schedule including 23 in Europe, 04 in the Americas, 20 in Middle East/Africa, and 33 in Asia-Pacific. Many cities will be served with a strong schedule with daily or more frequencies.
The gradual expansion will focus initially on strengthening connections between the airline’s hub in Doha with the global hubs of its partner airlines around the world including London, Chicago, Dallas, and Hong Kong along with reopening many major business and leisure destinations such as Madrid and Mumbai.
At present, the airline continues to operate flights to more than 30 destinations around the world. By the end of May, the airline plans to grow its network back to over 50 destinations resuming services to cities such as Manila, Amman, and Nairobi. A further number of destinations are planned to be added by the end of June.
Know more about the latest information on Qatar Airways during this pandemic via COVID-19 travel alert.