Qatar Airways clings to passenger schedule while rivals idle fleets

Qatar Airways said it’s continuing to operate a third of its normal schedule while bulking up on cargo flights as the carrier seeks to ride out the coronavirus outbreak. The airline is still operating about 150 flights a day, serving European cities such as Frankfurt and Munich and more far-flung destinations in the US, Australia and parts of Asia, Thierry Antinori, its head of strategy, said Wednesday. Qatar’s bid to maintain a reduced timetable contrasts with more drastic steps across the Middle East and Europe, where carriers have commonly grounded 90% of flights. In the neighbouring UAE, Etihad and Emirates ceased passenger operations entirely as of today amid a govt ban. Antinori said Qatar’s more diverse fleet of small and large aircraft has provided flexibility in responding to demand swings. <br/>