Qatar Airways resumes flights to UK despite being on the red list

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On June 11, 2021, Doha-based Qatar Airways resumed passenger operations to London Heathrow Airport (LHR), United Kingdom, despite Qatar being one of the countries on the UK’s red list. However, the flights would be conducted carrying only British or Irish nationals as well as those who have UK residency rights. 

“From 11 June, we’re able to fly British and Irish nationals and UK residents into London Heathrow Airport again from Qatar and across our network,” read Qatar Airways’ Twitter post. 

The first passenger flight QR3 since March 2021, took off from Doha Hamad International Airport (DOH) at 8:29 AM and landed at London Heathrow Airport (LHR) at 1:59 PM. The flight was conducted using Boeing 777 aircraft, registered as A7-BAG, the flightradar24.com data shows. 

According to UK travel rules, British, Irish, and third-country nationals with residence rights arriving from red list countries are required to undergo self-isolation in a government-approved hotel quarantine facility for 10 days as well as subject to take a PCR test on the second and eighth day of self-isolation.

Qatar was added to Britain’s red list on March 19, 2021, because of the worrying situation with regards to the COVID-19 variants. That meant that the country’s flag carrier was subject only to cargo and outbound operations from the UK.

 

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