Qatar Airways Announces Autism Awareness Month Initiatives and Special Events To Take Place Throughout the Month of April

01 April 2018

Award-winning airline hosts a variety of awareness-raising activities in partnership with HMC for employees, in order to effectively support passengers with autism

Photo shoot featuring #qatarairways cabin crew held, with content published on airline’s popular social media channels

DOHA, Qatar - #qatarairways today announced a series of initiatives and special events to take place throughout the month of April as part of Autism Awareness Month. #qatarairways continues its successful collaboration with Hamad Medical Cooperation (HMC) for the second consecutive year by hosting a programme of activities throughout the month designed to raise awareness of the autism spectrum disorder.

This year’s programme of events will include a series of seminars and training conducted by HMC’s doctors, specialists and therapists, with the aim to ensure that #qatarairways cabin crew and ground staff are prepared to support autistic passengers with a better understanding of the disorder.

HMC doctors and therapists will guide and advise cabin crew members on how to effectively support and assist autistic passengers while travelling on #qatarairways flights. An information kiosk has also been set up at the #qatar Airways operations center where medical representatives from HMC will distribute informative brochures about the disorder.

World Autism Awareness Day is every year on 2 April worldwide, with the goal of bringing attention to autism. To mark the day, the national carrier will host an exciting and lively Kids Fun Day at Kidzmondo #doha, where pilots and cabin crew will have the opportunity to interact with children with autism and their parents.

Additionally, to support World Autism Day, #qatar Airway staff across the airline’s network will be wearing blue – the official colour of Autism Awareness month - and posting messages about how they will contribute to raising awareness amongst the community. During the month, #qatarairways staff and cabin crew will be visiting Renad Academy, a member of #qatar Foundation, to spend a day with children with autism.

From 1 April 2018,  in-house training sessions on autism awareness conducted by #qatarairways First Aid trainers will be given to every crew member as part of their recurrent training.

Qatar Airways Senior Vice President Human Resources, Ms. #nabeelafakhri, said: “Qatar Airways has always been a major advocate of social and humanitarian causes. By equipping our cabin crew and ground services staff with a better understanding and awareness about the disorder, we are helping to ensure that we support all our passengers as effectively as we can. We are delighted to participate in this global initiative on a local level by once again partnering with Hamad Medical Corporation to provide this important awareness message and training to our staff. The seminars led by trained specialists will allow us to ensure a smooth and enjoyable journey, both for our autistic travellers as well as their caregivers.”

A special social media campaign will be launched on #qatarairways social media platforms with a hashtag #qatarairways#autismawarenessmonth, to foster support and further increase awareness. The airline has also organised a photo shoot with its cabin crew, enabling it to publish autism-related content across the airline’s popular social media channels, helping to further increase global awareness.

Corporate Social Responsibility is an important part of #qatar Airways’ values. Last year 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. #qatarairways 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 special needs adults with employment opportunities at #qatarairways.

As well as being voted Skytrax ‘Airline of the Year’ by travellers from around the world, Qatar’s national flag carrier also won a raft of other major awards at last year’s ceremony, including ‘Best Airline in the Middle East,’ ‘World’s Best Business Class’ and ‘World’s Best First Class Airline Lounge.’

Qatar Airways operates a modern fleet of more than 200 aircraft to a network of more than 150 key business and leisure destinations across six continents. The airline plans a host of exciting new destinations for 2018/19, including London Gatwick and Cardiff, United Kingdom; Lisbon, Portugal; Tallinn, Estonia; Valletta, Malta; Cebu and Davao, Philippines; Langkawi, Malaysia; Da Nang, Vietnam; Bodrum, Antalya and Hatay, Turkey; Mykonos, Greece and Málaga, Spain.

For images, pleast visit: https://www.flickr.com/photos/qatarairways/sets/72157693349445391

Notes to Editors:

About #qatar Airways

Qatar Airways, the national carrier of the State of #qatar, is celebrating more than 20 years of Going Places Together with travellers across its more than 150 business and leisure destinations. The world’s fastest-growing airline will add a number of exciting new destinations to its growing network in 2018, including Thessaloniki, Greece; Cardiff, UK and many more, flying passengers on board its modern fleet of more than 200 aircraft. 

A multiple award-winning airline, #qatarairways was named ‘Airline of the Year’ by the 2017 World Airline Awards, managed by international air transport rating organisation Skytrax. It was also named ‘World’s Best Business Class,’ ‘Best Airline in the Middle East,’ and ‘World’s Best First Class Airline Lounge.’

Qatar Airways is a member of the oneworld global alliance. The award-winning alliance was named the World’s Best Airline Alliance 2015 by Skytrax for the third year running. #qatarairways was the first Gulf carrier to join global airline alliance, oneworld, enabling its passengers to benefit from more than 1,000 airports in more than 150 countries, with 14,250 daily departures.

Oryx One, #qatar Airways’ in-flight entertainment system offers passengers up to 4,000 entertainment options from the latest blockbuster movies, TV box sets, music, games and much more. Passengers flying on #qatarairways flights served by its B787, A350, A380, A319 and select A320 and A330 aircraft can also stay in touch with their friends and family around the world by using the award-winning airline’s on-board Wi-Fi and GSM #service.

Qatar Airways proudly supports a range of exciting international and local initiatives dedicated to enriching the global community that it serves. #qatarairways, the official FIFA partner, is the official sponsor of many top-level sporting events, including the FIFA 2018 and 2022 World Cups, reflecting the values of sports as a means of bringing #people together, something at the core of the airline’s own brand message - Going Places Together.

Qatar Airways Cargo, the world’s third largest international cargo carrier, serves more than 60 exclusive freighter destinations worldwide via its world-class #doha hub and also delivers freight to more than 150 key business and leisure destinations globally with more than 200 aircraft. The #qatarairways Cargo fleet includes eight Airbus A330 freighters, 13 Boeing 777 freighters and two Boeing 747-8 freighters.

For further information, please contact:

Qatar Airways Group, #corporate Communications Department

Tel: +974 4022 2200