Qatar Airways created history Tuesday by operating the world’s first fully vaccinated flight. All the passengers, crew as well as the check- in staff were fully vaccinated with two doses of Covid-19 vaccine.
Qatar Airways to add more frequencies: al-Baker
Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive and Qatar National Tourism Council secretary general HE Akbar al-Baker told that the airline will add more frequencies as the number of passengers grow, especially in the summer months.
He also said that the airline is waiting for the Indian authorities to open the airports to carry more passengers to various destinations in the country.
Al-Baker was speaking to Gulf Times on the sidelines of the media interaction at the launch of the world’s first fully Covid-19 vaccinated flight.
“We are a scheduled carrier and we are going to continue our schedule. We will keep adding more frequencies as the number of passengers grow. As far as the Indian sector is concerned, we are waiting for the Indian authorities to open up their airports so that we can carry the passengers,” added al-Baker.
Flight QR6421 took off from Doha's Hamad International Airport (HIA) around 12 noon and returned at 3pm. The special service was operated by the airline’s most technologically advanced and sustainable aircraft, the Airbus A350-1000. The flight also fully carbon offset in line with the carrier’s environmental responsibilities.
Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive and Qatar National Tourism Council secretary general HE Akbar al-Baker told the media at HIA that the airline wanted to send a strong message to the world that air travel is safe with fully vaccinated passengers.
“Qatar Airways is delighted to launch this historic flight, the world’s first fully Covid-19 vaccinated flight. All the passengers are given a certificate stating that they were in the first international airline carrying fully Covid-19 vaccinated passengers.
“We want to convey the message that air travel is safe and you can travel without the fear of getting infected with Covid-19 if you are vaccinated against the virus. Some people still feel that air travel can result in Covid-19 infection. However, people have to be responsible in their behaviour and follow all the Covid-19 protocols. Until and unless a robust anti-viral drug is available for the diseases, it will be an up and down cycle of the disease,” continued the CEO.
Qatar Airways also showcased several 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 passengers included people from various walks of life including some leading entrepreneurs.
One of the passengers on board, Dr Mohamed Althaf, director of LuLu Group International, told Gulf Times that it was a great experience travelling in a fully vaccinated flight.
“During the pre-Covid era, I used to travel a minimum of 28 to 30 weeks a year. But, now, it is just a fond memory and I believe that with more and more people getting vaccinated,
there will be more travel opportunities. So I am really delighted at the invitation to travel in the world’s first fully vaccinated flight,” noted, Althaf.
“ Moreover, this initiative by Qatar Airways also sends out a strong message that air travel is safe especially if you are fully vaccinated. There is a kind of fear among some sections of people that air travel leads to increased infections of Covid-19. I hope the travel and hospitality sector picks up soon in a big way,” Dr Althaf added.
The pilots of the world’s first fully vaccinated flight
Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive and Qatar National Tourism Council secretary general HE Akbar al-Baker told the media at HIA that the airline wanted to send a strong message to the world that air travel is safe with fully vaccinated passengers.
| HE Akbar al-baker speaking to the media |
“We want to convey the message that air travel is safe and you can travel without the fear of getting infected with Covid-19 if you are vaccinated against the virus. Some people still feel that air travel can result in Covid-19 infection. However, people have to be responsible in their behaviour and follow all the Covid-19 protocols. Until and unless a robust anti-viral drug is available for the diseases, it will be an up and down cycle of the disease,” continued the CEO.
Qatar Airways also showcased several 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 passengers included people from various walks of life including some leading entrepreneurs.
One of the passengers on board, Dr Mohamed Althaf, director of LuLu Group International, told Gulf Times that it was a great experience travelling in a fully vaccinated flight.
“During the pre-Covid era, I used to travel a minimum of 28 to 30 weeks a year. But, now, it is just a fond memory and I believe that with more and more people getting vaccinated,
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The route of the fully vaccinated flight |
“ Moreover, this initiative by Qatar Airways also sends out a strong message that air travel is safe especially if you are fully vaccinated. There is a kind of fear among some sections of people that air travel leads to increased infections of Covid-19. I hope the travel and hospitality sector picks up soon in a big way,” Dr Althaf added.
Cabin crew on the world’s first fully vaccinated flight
Dr Mohamed Althaf, director of LuLu Group International, on board the flight
Qatar Airways to add more frequencies: al-Baker
Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive and Qatar National Tourism Council secretary general HE Akbar al-Baker told that the airline will add more frequencies as the number of passengers grow, especially in the summer months.
He also said that the airline is waiting for the Indian authorities to open the airports to carry more passengers to various destinations in the country.
Al-Baker was speaking to Gulf Times on the sidelines of the media interaction at the launch of the world’s first fully Covid-19 vaccinated flight.
“We are a scheduled carrier and we are going to continue our schedule. We will keep adding more frequencies as the number of passengers grow. As far as the Indian sector is concerned, we are waiting for the Indian authorities to open up their airports so that we can carry the passengers,” added al-Baker.
