Controversies
Controversies tied to this brand in public sources. A listing is not a finding of fault.
Back to profile7 entries
2022
Employee treatment and working-condition controversies
The airline has faced broader criticism and reporting concerning employee pay and working conditions. The reference material does not establish a single final legal or regulatory outcome.
2021
Qatar Airways grounds 21 A350 aircraft amid surface degradation concerns
Corrective action
Qatar Airways said it had grounded 21 A350 aircraft, citing accelerated degradation of their fuselages beneath the paint. The airline called the condition significant.
Source excerpt
In its statement, Qatar Airways, one of the world's leading operators of the aircraft, said it has been monitoring the degradation beneath the paint on the fuselage of the aircraft, describing it as a "significant condition."
Qatar Airways said it is seeking a rapid resolution and has now grounded 21 A350 aircraft, stressing that their fuselages were "degrading at an accelerated rate."
2021
Qatar Airways files UK court claim against Airbus over A350 surface damage
Lawsuit filed
Qatar Airways said it had started proceedings in a UK court against Airbus over surface flaws on A350 jets. Qatar Airways said the condition had led to 21 of its A350s being grounded; Airbus maintained that the aircraft were safe to fly.
Stated objective. Qatar Airways said it sought a rapid resolution of the dispute via the courts.
Source excerpt
PARIS, Dec 21 — Qatar Airways said on Monday it had started proceedings in a UK court against planemaker Airbus in a bid to resolve a dispute over skin flaws on A350 passenger jets, bringing the two sides closer to a rare legal showdown over aviation safety.
The companies have been locked in a row for months over damage, including blistered paint and corrosion to a sub-layer of lightning protection, which Qatar Airways says has now led to the grounding of 21 A350 jets by its domestic regulator.
Melbourne Injury Lawyers, on behalf of Karatzaferis, are claiming unspecified damages.
2020
Pakistan fines Qatar Airways for COVID-19 SOP violation
Fine or penalty
In October 2020, Pakistan imposed a fine of 100,000 PKR on Qatar Airways for violating COVID-19 Standard Operating Procedures. The penalty followed the travel of a passenger with a positive COVID-19 test report on a Qatar Airways flight to Islamabad. The fine was issued in connection with the breach of the applicable pandemic-related procedures.
Pakistan imposed a 100,000 PKR fine on Qatar Airways for violating COVID-19 Standard Operating Procedures after a passenger with a positive COVID-19 test report travelled on a Qatar Airways flight to Islamabad.
Source excerpt
He said the fine was imposed by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).
He said that one of the passengers with a positive COVID-19 test report had travelled on the Qatar Airways flight to Islamabad.
Aviation Division spokesman Abdul Sattar Khokhar in a statement on Friday said the government had taken serious notice of the violation which had put the health and safety of the passengers as well as personnel working at the airport at risk, reports Dawn news.
2018
Gender-related comments by chief executive
Akbar Al Baker attracted criticism after making a comment about whether a woman could perform his job. He later said the remark was not intended to refer to all women at Qatar Airways.
2016
Allegations of improper government support
American, Delta and United Airlines alleged that Qatar Airways received substantial state assistance. Qatar Airways rejected the claims; U.S. government discussions did not result in formal action described in the reference material.
2015
Cabin-crew employment policy criticism
The airline faced criticism over rules concerning pregnancy and marriage among cabin crew. It later said affected employees could continue in ground roles and that its policies had changed with the company's growth.