Qatar Airways announces temporary hold, schedule adjustments in services to Iran and South Korea
In line with travel restrictions imposed by certain countries amid the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19) in Iran and South Korea, Qatar Airways (QA) has announced a temporary hold and schedule adjustments in flights to the two countries.
QA said in a press release that the decision comes after the airline experienced “significant operational challenges caused by entry restrictions imposed by certain countries.”
— QatarAirways Support (@qrsupport) February 25, 2020
Under the changes, effective from today, February 26, 2020, QA flights from South Korea to Doha will operate with a smaller aircraft, the airline said.
The Boeing 777-3000 aircraft on this route will temporarily be swapped with an Airbus A350-900.
Additionally, only passengers who have onward connections via Hamad International Airport from Incheon Airport will be allowed to travel with the airline.
— QatarAirways Support (@qrsupport) February 25, 2020
With regards to Iran, QA said, scheduled passenger frequencies for flights to and from Mashhad, Shiraz, and Isfahan have been temporarily halted, effective from today.
The airline will evaluate the situation for up to two weeks (until March 14, 2020).
Moreover, flights to and from Tehran will see a reduction of frequencies from 20 weekly to seven weekly now.
Cargo operations will continue, as usual, the airline said.
With travel restrictions on recent visitors to Iran and South Korea, “the airline is in a logistically challenging position to schedule crew on certain routes, limiting its ability to maintain scheduled operations elsewhere,” the QA statement added.
The situation will be monitored with a hope to restore flights on these routes as per the normal schedule, the airline mentioned.
Earlier, QA had also said all incoming passengers from Iran and South Korea whose final destination is Doha and are showing no symptoms of the virus will be asked to stay in home isolation or a quarantine facility for 14 days.
"Passengers arriving from those countries who are showing symptoms will be transferred to the Communicable Disease Centre at the Hamad Medical Corporation," the airline stated.
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Precaution is always better for all sides ..... Good ....