DOHA, Qatar – Qatar Airways is pleased to announce that it will host a series of special events to take place throughout the month of April designed to raise awareness of the autism spectrum disorder.
The airline is pleased to continue its successful collaboration with Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) for the third consecutive year by hosting a series of workshops and training programmes conducted by HMC’s doctors, specialists and therapists, with the aim to ensure that Qatar Airways cabin crew and ground staff are prepared to support autistic passengers with a better understanding of the disorder.
HMC doctors and therapists will also guide and advise cabin crew members on how to effectively support and assist autistic passengers while travelling on Qatar Airways flights. An information kiosk will be set up at the airline’s operations center where medical representatives from HMC will distribute informational brochures about the disorder.
Qatar Airways Senior Vice President Human Resources, Ms. Nabeela Fakhri, said: “As an airline, we are proud to support both global and local campaigns in raising awareness of this disorder. Equipping our staff with the information they need enables us to support all of our customers as best we can. We are delighted to participate in this global initiative for the third consecutive year by partnering with Hamad Medical Corporation, in order to ensure our autistic passengers have a smooth and enjoyable journey.”
World Autism Awareness Day is held every year on 2 April worldwide, with the goal of bringing attention to autism. To mark the day, Qatar Airways hosted an exciting and lively Kids Fun Day at Kidzmondo Doha, providing Qatar Airways cabin crew and employees the opportunity to interact with children with autism and their teachers, therapists and caregivers. Qatar Airways’ Oryx Kids Club mascots, Orry and Orah, made a special appearance at the event.
Corporate Social Responsibility is an important part of Qatar Airways’ values. In 2017 the airline renewed its sponsorship as Official Airline Partner to Orbis UK for a further three years. The airline has been a proud sponsor of Orbis and its blindness prevention programmes since 2012. Qatar Airways continues to be a proud supporter of the Educate-A-Child programme, which helps provide quality primary school education to millions of out-of-school children globally. Additionally, the airline has partnered with Doha’s Shafallah Centre, Qatar’s special needs association, to provide adults with special needs employment opportunities at Qatar Airways.
A multiple-award-winning airline, Qatar Airways was named ‘World’s Best Business Class’ by the 2018 World Airline Awards, managed by international air transport rating organisation Skytrax. It was also named ‘Best Business Class Seat’, ‘Best Airline in the Middle East’, and ‘World’s Best First Class Airline Lounge’.
Qatar Airways currently operates a modern fleet of more than 250 aircraft via its hub, Hamad International Airport (HIA) to more than 160 destinations worldwide.
Qatar Airways will add a number of new destinations to its extensive route network in 2019, including Malta; Lisbon, Portugal; Malta; Izmir, Turkey; Rabat, Morocco; Langkawi, Malaysia; Davao, Philippines; and Mogadishu, Somalia.
