- Qatar Airways dropped its Omicron ban on South Africans in January.
- But if you want to fly via Doha, you’ll need to wear a face shield visor as well as a mask – if you are from South Africa, Mozambique, or Zambia.
- That is despite the fact that the government of Qatar has all three countries on its green list.
- The airline hasn’t said why.
- For more stories go to www.BusinessInsider.co.za.
Qatar Airways is flying passengers out of South Africa again – after an extended Omicron ban – but is demanding that passengers from this country wear a provided clear plastic visor as well as the more common face shield, for reasons that are not entirely clear.
Journalist Carien du Plessis tweeted a selfie in her airline-provided visor this week, and related her conversation with a staff member about the unusual precaution.
Passengers on @qatarairways have to wear these shields. I ask a staff member what it’s for. It’s SA govt regulation to Doha. I said to him, but what’s the purpose. He says it’s for our own safety. Really. I’m double jabbed. I’m happy to take my chances with the science on this ?? pic.twitter.com/dmjcPNiGKl
— carien du plessis (@carienduplessis) February 15, 2022
Qatar Airways lists three countries for which the mask-and-visor rule holds: South Africa, Mozambique, and Zambia. It does not say why, but makes it clear that visors are required for the entire duration of the flight.
Qatar’s ministry of public health currently has South Africa on its green list of countries. Mozambique and Zambia are also on its green list.
Qatar Airways did not respond to a request for comment.
The airline made face shield visors (on top of face masks) compulsory in July 2020 – for economy-class passengers. Those in business class were required to wear their face shields while they got on and off the plane, but once ensconced in their cabin, they could choose to wear it or not.
Qatar never provided a compelling scientific basis for the introduction of…