Visit our Covid-19 microsite for the latest coronavirus news, analysis and updates
Follow the latest updates of the outbreak on our timeline.
Qatar Airways has announced that it will temporarily reduce 40% of its staff at Hamad International Airport amid the Covid-19 pandemic.
Bloomberg quoted a spokesperson as saying that the reductions were in food and beverage, retail and ground staff.
This follows the reduced passenger numbers due to the travel restrictions.
The staff will either work remotely from home or take paid or even unpaid leave. They will not be present at the airport.
In other news, Qatar Airways also tweeted: “#QatarAirways has acquired 500K COVID-19 test kits to contribute to #Qatar relief efforts. @HIAQatar #HIAQatar.”
Aviation has been one of the most affected industries during the pandemic and many airlines and airports have laid off employees or closed part of their operations.
Emirates, Dubai’s state-owned airline, was also impacted by the crisis, causing the Government of Dubai to announce a capital infusion to safeguard the business.
Dubai Crown Prince Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Al-Maktoum tweeted: “Today, we renew our commitment to support a success story that started in the mid-1980s to reach its goal of sitting on the throne of global aviation.
“The Government of Dubai is committed to fully supporting @Emirates at this critical time & will inject equity into the company.”
Earlier this week, the UK’s flag carrier British Airways (BA) halted all its flight operations from London Gatwick Airport due to the reduced demand.
London City Airport also announced that it will halt all commercial and private flight operations temporarily.
Last week, Sheremetyevo International Airport in Moscow announced its plans to close the arrivals and departures at Terminal D from 1 April.
