Qatar Airways now is requiring Economy Class passengers to wear face shields in addition to face coverings aboard aircraft.
The carriers is providing the shields, which come in adult and child sizes, to all passengers at check-in counters at Qatar's Hamad International Airport and at boarding gates in other destinations. Economy passengers are required to wear them throughout the flights except when eating or drinking. Business Class passengers are asked to wear them "at their own discretion," since they have more space in their seating, according to Qatar. All passengers will have to wear the shields while boarding and disembarking.
In addition to the face shields, Qatar Airways is supplying passengers with protective kits that contain a single-use surgical face mask, disposable gloves and sanitizing hand gel. The carrier also has introduced disposable protective gowns for its cabin crew to wear in addition to their safety glasses, gloves and masks.
Qatar Airways this month is expanding its network to more than 430 weekly flights to more than 65 destinations. On Wednesday, it restarted services to 11 destinations, including Boston, Los Angeles and Washington, D.C.