DOHA - Qatar Airways says it plans to fly a summer schedule to more than 80 destinations worldwide.
It has been one of the few airlines to continue regular, scheduled flights during the global lockdowns to contain the novel coronavirus, maintaining services to about 30 destinations.
The Doha-based airline made the announcement via Twitter late on Tuesday. It said earlier this month that it would start resuming flights to destinations it had suspended due to the virus outbreak and that it aimed to fly to up to 80 destinations by June.
But like many other airlines forced to shed staff even as lockdowns in some parts of the world ease, the mid to long-term outlook for the long-haul Qatari carrier remains lacklustre.
In early May, it announced plans to shed a "substantial" number of employees, including cabin crew.
Qatar Airways' Chief Executive Akbar al-Baker said this month that global travel demand will take years to recover from the coronavirus pandemic and many business travellers may never return to the skies, having become accustomed to working remotely, while job losses and business closures would also have an impact.
The CEO, who heads one of the Middle East's largest carriers, added he would be "very surprised" if travel demand recovered before 2023-2024.(FA)
It has been one of the few airlines to continue regular, scheduled flights during the global lockdowns to contain the novel coronavirus, maintaining services to about 30 destinations.
The Doha-based airline made the announcement via Twitter late on Tuesday. It said earlier this month that it would start resuming flights to destinations it had suspended due to the virus outbreak and that it aimed to fly to up to 80 destinations by June.
But like many other airlines forced to shed staff even as lockdowns in some parts of the world ease, the mid to long-term outlook for the long-haul Qatari carrier remains lacklustre.
In early May, it announced plans to shed a "substantial" number of employees, including cabin crew.
Qatar Airways' Chief Executive Akbar al-Baker said this month that global travel demand will take years to recover from the coronavirus pandemic and many business travellers may never return to the skies, having become accustomed to working remotely, while job losses and business closures would also have an impact.
The CEO, who heads one of the Middle East's largest carriers, added he would be "very surprised" if travel demand recovered before 2023-2024.(FA)
