Qatar Airways launched new service to Cebu in the Philippines on Friday, the carrier’s third new destination during the crisis, joining new routes to Brisbane and Toronto. The airline will also resume service to Guangzhou, China on July 26, 2020.
On Thursday (July 23, 2020), Qatar Airways announced new service to Cebu in the Philippines, the third new destination offered by the award-winning carrier during the crisis, joining new routes to Brisbane and Toronto. The new route commenced operations on Friday, July 24, 2020. The airline will also resume once-weekly service to Guangzhou, China on July 26, 2020. Qatar Airways’ mix of modern fuel-efficient aircraft have enabled the carrier to adapt its plans and continue adding new routes, even during this difficult demand environment. Throughout the crisis, the national airline of the State of Qatar’s route network never fell below 30 destinations, making Qatar Airways one of the world’s most experienced airlines in dealing with crisis-related operations. In Thursday’s announcement, Qatar Airways Group’s Chief Executive, His Excellency Mr. Akbar Al Baker said,
“We are delighted to be launching a new direct service to Cebu, offering our passengers another gateway into the Philippines. Being the airline that has never stopped flying since COVID-19 hit, it has been Qatar Airways’ mission to take people home safely during the pandemic, and we have helped more than two million people get home to their loved ones since February. The resumption of Guangzhou passenger services is one of the significant steps taken by Qatar Airways to demonstrate our confidence in the gradual recovery of the regional travel market and global connectivity. Since the COVID-19 crisis started, we have challenged ourselves to be at the forefront and combat the effects of the global pandemic, by volunteering our services to deliver worldwide supplies coordinated by Chinese Embassies and Consulates. With over 40 onward available connections to Africa, Europe and the Middle east, passengers from Cebu and Guangzhou will be able to enjoy the Best Airline in the World and the World’s best Business Class Seat while also having access to the largest and broadest network in the region via Hamad International Airport, the Best Airport in the Middle East.
“In addition to scheduled freighter services, we have also operated a large number of charters and freight-only passenger aircraft to meet China’s surging demand for imports and exports. With the resumption of passenger flights, we will have 49 flights in total, comprising of passenger freighters, belly-hold cargo flights and freighters in and out of Mainland China each week, providing more than 2,500 tonnes of weekly cargo capacity each way.”
By the end of July, Qatar Airways will offer over 450 weekly flights to more than 70 destinations, including three flights weekly service to Cebu from July 24th, and once-weekly service to Guangzhou from July 26, 2020. The carrier last offered service to Cebu in March 2012, but will now offer 13 weekly departures to three Philippine gateways including Manila (9 flights weekly), Clark (one flight weekly) and Cebu (3 flights weekly). Cebu it the Philippines’ second largest city and is a major economic, trading and tourist destination. The city offers white sand beaches, turquoise waterfalls and world-famous diving locations. Cebu is just the latest year-round holiday destination served by Qatar Airways, as the carrier has already resumed service to Bali, the Maldives, Tunis and Zanzibar.
Qatar Airways has enhanced onboard safety measures for guests and crew including Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for cabin crew including masks, gloves, safety glasses and a new protective gown. The carrier has also implemented a modified meal service designed to limit contact. Passengers are also required to wear facemasks inflight, and the carrier recommends travelers bring their own for personalized fit and comfort. The airline has also introduced protective face shields which will be distributed at the check-in counters at Hamad International Airport. Guests boarding from other locations will receive their face shield at the boarding gate. Qatar Airways’ guests will receive a complimentary protective kit onboard which includes a single-use surgical mask, large disposable powder-free gloves and an alcohol-based hand sanitizer gel. Additionally, Qatar Airways now allows unlimited date changes for tickets (within 5,000 miles of the original destination) for travel completed before December 31, 2020, without any fare difference charges.
Business Class Guests traveling in Qatar Airways’ award-winning Qsuite will enjoy a private sanctuary with sliding privacy partitions and fully closing doors. Customers can also use the ‘Do Not Disturb’ (DND) indicator in their private suite to limit crew interactions. Qsuite is currently available on flights to over 30 destinations including London, Paris, Frankfurt, Sydney, Singapore and Dallas-Fort Worth.
Celebrated and award-winning Qatar Airways was named the ‘World’s Best Airline’ in the 2019 World Airline Awards managed by Skytrax. The carrier was also named ‘Best Airline in the Middle East,’ ‘World’s Best Business Class’ and awarded the title for ‘Best Business Class Seat.’ Qatar Airways is the only airline ever to have received the prestigious “Skytrax Airline of the Year” title five times. The national carrier of the State of Qatar, Qatar Airways normally serves over 170 global destinations with a fleet of more than 250 modern aircraft. The airline’s primary hub is located at Hamad International Airport in Doha, Qatar.
Source: Qatar Airways