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Qatar Airways Gives Away 100,000 Tickets to Healthcare Workers While Scaling Back Operations

Economy on Qatar’s A350-1000 (Photo: AirlineGeeks | Parker Davis)

Qatar Airways has announced its own task of giving back to those on the medical frontline facing the COVID-19 crisis with the thought of a getaway once travel becomes common again. The airline will give away 100,000 free flights to those who qualify with those wishing to enter the giveaway applying on International Nurses Day, May 12. The contest will run through May 18, with tickets being distributed while taking into account the number of applicants from each region on the globe.

The healthcare professionals who make the 100,000-member list will be entitled to round trip tickets for themselves and one companion to any destination in the active Qatar Airways route map. The tickets are all for economy class only but do also come with a 35% discount on any purchase made in the Qatar Duty-Free stores inside Doha’s Hamad International Airport. 

Winners will still be expected to pay for their own taxes and fees on the won tickets. By entering the contest the airline will require a job title to be given during enrollment and must match the medical identification that the winner must show when they arrive at the airport.

While the airline wants passengers to utilize their free flight by December 10th, the carrier claims that it will remain flexible for both dates and destinations depending on how the coronavirus issue plays out in the following months. Booking still need to be made 14 days prior to departure.

Qatar Airways CEO Akbar Al Baker noted, “We at Qatar Airways are incredibly grateful for the commitment and hard work of healthcare professionals around the world who looked after people in these times of uncertainty. United in dedication, we hare our gratitude. Now it is our turn to give something back to those on the healthcare frontline. There are no words or gestures that are enough to repay these brave men and women but we hope that our small offer of a complimentary return flight on Qatar Airways will allow them to enjoy a well-deserved holiday, visit family and friends or explore a destination they have always dreamed of as travel restrictions start to ease.”

The airline has continued to operate throughout the pandemic but at a limited schedule. Qatar hopes to ramp up some operations again over the coming months as international travel restrictions ease. Al Baker also recently unveiled the airline’s plans to reduce its fleet by up to 25 percent as a result of reduced travel demand.

Ian McMurtry

Author

  • Ian McMurtry

    Although Ian McMurtry was never originally an avgeek, he did enjoy watching US Airways aircraft across western Pennsylvania in the early 2000s. He lived along the Pennsylvania Railroad and took a liking to trains but a change of scenery in the mid-2000s saw him shift more of an interest into aviation. He would eventually express this passion by taking flying lessons in mid-Missouri and joining AirlineGeeks in 2013. Now living in Wichita, Kansas, Ian is in college majoring in aerospace engineering and minoring in business administration at Wichita State University.

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