Qatar Airways has dropped its requirement for double face covering for passengers from southern Africa. Image: Adobe Stock
Qatar Airways: U-turn on visors for SA passengers after ‘racist’ backlash
Passengers from South Africa, Mozambique and Zambia no longer have to double-up with face shields when travelling with Qatar Airways.
Qatar Airways has dropped its requirement for double face covering for passengers from southern Africa. Image: Adobe Stock
Last week Qatar Airways’ announcement that passengers travelling on the airline’s flights from South Africa, Zambia and Mozambique were required to wear masks, as well as face shields, sparked an outcry.
All three countries are on Qatar’s green list, and this bizarre request for extra PPE based on the region passengers are travelling from, outraged many frequent flyers to say the least.
Qatar Airways had become one of South Africa’s favourite airlines during the pandemic. The airline did not stop flying to South Africa for the most part of the previous two years and could be relied on by passengers needing to get to and from South Africa during a time when many airlines had suspended SA routes.
QATAR AIRWAYS: OUTCRY OVER EXTRA FACE SHIELDS
Passengers from South Africa, Mozambique and Zambia were required to wear a face shield. This was in addition to the airline’s requirement for face masks to be worn by all passengers.
The requirement was put in place for passengers from just three African countries, sparking an outcry from passengers and potential customers who said they would not make use of the airline’s services in light of the discriminatory requirement, which they labelled as “racist”.
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‘DISCRIMINATORY’ REQUIREMENTThe issue came to light on 15 February when journalist Carien du Plessis tweeted a photo of herself wearing a transparent visor and mask on board a Qatar Airways flight. Du Plessis claimed it was mandatory for passengers on board the flight to wear both face masks and visors.
Just three days after Du Plessis’s tweet, the regulation was scrapped. A statement on Qatar Airway’s website which stated that passengers on flights from the three countries were obliged to wear a face mask and a visor was removed on Saturday 19 February.
Qatar Airways does a U-turn
“Qatar Airways confirms that face-shields are not mandatory on board any of our flights. Face shields were required as a short-term, precautionary measure that is no longer in operation. Passengers will still be required to wear face masks on all flights to ensure the continued safety of our passengers and crew.” Qatar Airways’ PR agency told Travel News.
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