PHILIPPINE EMBASSY CIRCULAR NO. CRR-11 -11 21 March 2011
DOHA
EMBASSY CIRCULAR NO. CRR-11 -11
21 March 2011
QR30,000 FINE FOR SMOKING ON PLANE
The Philippine Embassy would like to inform all Filipino Community Organizations that Qatar issued a law imposing fines of up to QR30,000 on airline passengers who smoked or damaged smoke-detectors onboard. The same punishment may be given to airline passengers caught operating electronic devices during their journey. The fine will be doubled for recidivists.
According to the news article published in Gulf Times dated 17 March 2011 , the new law, which contains additions and amendments to civil aviation regulations ,
has been ratified by His Highness Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani, the Emir of the State of Qatar.
In addition, a passenger who fails to abide by the pilot's security-related instructions is liable to be jailed for up to three years or fined QR100,000. Similar
punishment can be meted out for drunkenness or drug consumption that affects the safety of the plane or leading to diversion of its route or sabotaging the equipment in the cockpit or onboard the aircraft. Passengers perpetuating physical, sexual or verbal assault on crew members will also be subjected to the same penalty.
The law is applicable if the offence is committed on planes in Qatari airspace or on aircraft that is state-registered or rented or while landing in Qatar and if the
violator is a citizen or an expatriate.
All Filcom leaders are requested to disseminate this information to their members, friends and other OFWs in Doha, for information and guidance.
CRESENTE R. RELACION
Ambassador
Doha, State of Qatar,
P.O. Box: 24900,
Tel. 44831585,
Fax No.: 44831595
