Longtime Qatar Airways CEO Akbar Al Baker recently resigned, which caught many people off guard, given that he had been CEO of the airline for 27 years. Al Baker has been replaced by Badr Mohammed Al Meer, who shared a new vision for the airline as he took on his new role. Specifically, he promised a new era at the airline, “in which a culture of trust and empowerment will be the building blocks of our shared success.”
Many wondered if that was just an empty promise, or if we’d actually see changes at the airline. Well, it appears that the latter is the case…
In this post:
Qatar Airways ends cabin crew curfew in Doha
As reported by a Fly Guy’s Cabin Crew Lounge and flagged by PYOK, Qatar Airways has just discontinued one of its most controversial policies impacting employees. Qatar Airways cabin crew live in company housing in Doha, and historically they’ve been subject to a curfew while there.
Under the old policy, they always had to be in their accommodation from 4AM until 7AM, even on days off. Furthermore, they had to be in their accommodation 12 hours before a trip.
That policy has finally changed. Qatar Airways has lifted the 4AM until 7AM curfew, and now only requires crews to be in their accommodations starting nine hours before they start a trip.
This is a massive quality of life improvement for many Qatar Airways employees. The 4AM until 7AM curfew was simply absurd. I mean, Qatar Airways operates flights all hours of the day and night, and as you’d expect, employees are often jetlagged.
For that matter, many people just like to get up early. For example, I get up before 5AM every day (without an alarm), so it’s illogical to have a policy whereby someone can’t go out for a morning jog at 6:30AM, but can go out for cocktails at 2AM.
Let’s hope this is the first of many changes
When people apply to become flight attendants at Middle Eastern carriers, they almost always first apply for Emirates, then Etihad, and then Qatar Airways (followed by carriers like Oman Air, Gulf Air, Saudia, etc.).
A large part of that is the much freer working conditions at Emirates. Qatar Airways already made some progress in the past. For example, several years back the airline changed its policy around pregnancy and marriage, as previously you’d be fired if you became pregnant or married without permission.
At this point, the curfew policy was one of the most controversial ones. Hopefully Qatar Airways now considers changing its social media policy, because I know that’s something that a lot of employees care about as well.
I’m really impressed to see that there’s substance to the promised changes at Qatar Airways, so here’s to hoping that this is the first of many. This could push Qatar Airways to the next level, as the airline will be able to do a better job of hiring and retaining talent.
Bottom line
Qatar Airways has ended its ridiculous cabin crew curfew, whereby crews had to be in their accommodations in Doha every day from 4AM until 7AM. Qatar Airways’ new CEO has promised a new era for the airline built on trust, and this is an important move in the right direction. Qatar Airways’ new CEO has the opportunity to greatly improve morale at the airline, so hopefully he seizes that opportunity.
What do you make of Qatar Airways ending its cabin crew curfew?
It wouldn't be controversial to you if you understood why it was in place in the first instance. There was a legit need for it to be a thing.
If you think that's crazy, (or was) here In Saudi Arabia cabin crews Of Saudia (though the natives prefer it be called Saudi Arabian Airlines) are on a curfew from 11pm 7am in their compounds even on days off.
If safe side seen the most of danger avoid things could be happen in old policy which says 4am to 7pm. That’s actually does make work. I mean if I drunk cocktail before 9 hours as per the mentions in the conversation. so it could be the reason of distraction, it should be 12 hours needed maybe. And the old ceo he kept the policies on desk that means it’s a part of discipline as...
If safe side seen the most of danger avoid things could be happen in old policy which says 4am to 7pm. That’s actually does make work. I mean if I drunk cocktail before 9 hours as per the mentions in the conversation. so it could be the reason of distraction, it should be 12 hours needed maybe. And the old ceo he kept the policies on desk that means it’s a part of discipline as well. Anyways I’m not the part of Qatar airways so it’s not my job to think all this hahahah. Old goes new come always our first love for he country.
I will never fly that airline. Modern technology with irrelevant beliefs and demands on employees. I don’t accept hypocrisy.
Such a little tin god; "irrelevant beliefs" and "I don't accept hypocrisy". As if the Great You decides what is relevant in the world, and who are hypocrites, and whether anyone cares what airline you decide you fly. News flash: we don't care, you don't decide what is relevant to anyone but you, and you seem to be the hypocrite. Move along.
As if fundamentally transforming QR to be more like WN would be appreciated by leisure passengers and me.
Hopefully cockpit visit at the end of z trip will be allowed
I still wouldn’t want to work for Qatar or any of the ME3. No union. Poor working conditions.
Great start indeed.
How about ground crew female curfew from 12am till 7am , hopefully they care about them too.
Same organisation after all
This is a good question, and i hope they give due consideration.
My Niece is always in a rush to get home, always have to mind the time when our family is having fun.
Good start! - No doubt.
This is such an over due change for QR crew who are ADULTS!
I hope true change will be brought about whilst maintaining their usual high standards.
I sincerely hope crew will enjoy/make use of this basic human right keeping in mind where they live whilst respecting laws of the land.
As an Ex CSD of Qatar Airways, I’m truly happy for the crew (Adults!).
I also somehow...
Good start! - No doubt.
This is such an over due change for QR crew who are ADULTS!
I hope true change will be brought about whilst maintaining their usual high standards.
I sincerely hope crew will enjoy/make use of this basic human right keeping in mind where they live whilst respecting laws of the land.
As an Ex CSD of Qatar Airways, I’m truly happy for the crew (Adults!).
I also somehow feel sorry for very many of former crew community (those no more in the company) who were victimized by Akbar Al Bakers unacceptable, inhumane & silly policies. Must state, many adult lives were wasted or ruined by former CEO Akbar Al Baker’s nonsense. My view!
If the time to fix past things has come they should call back all the crews who were unfairly terminated for no reason
I hope soon those were forced by Akbar to resign, will be called back.
A lots of family life was destroyed by him. He made many potential enemies for Qatar out of employees family (children).
It's about time they stopped treating employees as indentured servants. Considering that most of the employees aren't even from Qatar, it surprises me how anyone can agree to such conditions. Being required to live in a company dorm AND abide by any kind of curfew, much less on days off, is just outrageous. I'm glad they realized that.
A great first step, still a long way to go
Ben. I think you are oversimplifying why ppl apply to emirates before Qatar. Dubai is a much more vibrant place to live if young and single. Doha is fine, preferable even, if you have a family. I’ve spoken to many QR staff during flights and more then one of them have commented on Doha being a boring place.
Dubai is kind of both...they have enough super expensive private schools that cater to the expats to show for that lol
Its a good decision by the new CEO of Qatar Airways as the new policy will abide by the staffs .
As long as money earned by QR funnels to Hamas...stop giving them press..PERIOD
You think QR earns money?? Cute.
It's actually not "earned" money in the traditional sense. More like laundering money (mostly Iranian) to Hamas. Frankly, I'm shocked that Ben at OMAT would support anyone flying on or to Qatar with their views on LGBT rights.
So in essence: you have trouble understanding that the majority of people don't position their orientation as a determinant/dictating force in their professional or recreational activities....?
They don't funnel money to Khamaahs.
In that case everyone should stop flying US Airlines because the US government is funding genocide in Palestine. PERIOD.
Geez, the Israelis are really bad at this genocide thing, aren't they, as the population of Gaza has increased steadily over the years.
Keep your deranged and twisted political views of this site and let's stick to aviation matters, shall we?
'Bibi' Netanyahu wasn't concerned about periodic Doha-Tel Aviv flights with cash-carrying envoys from the Qatari government headed for Gaza.
https://www.jpost.com/arab-israeli-conflict/netanyahu-money-to-hamas-part-of-strategy-to-keep-palestinians-divided-583082
Karen, try to remain composed and concentrate on the 10's of billions of your tax Dollars / Euros, being used to finance wars and genocide, rather than your sad wellfare system & declining infrastructure. PERIOD.