Qatar Airways gifting 100,000 healthcare workers with free flights as 'thank you' for fighting coronavirus

Round trip tickets will be gifted to 100,000 frontline health workers worldwide as a 'thank you' for their role in fighting the coronavirus, a statement from the Qatar airline company said on Monday.

The Qatar Airways giveaway opened for online registrations on Thursday, marking International Nurses Day, and will close early next week. Winners will be able to book flights to any destination the airline flies free of charge. 

"Their heroic display of kindness, dedication, and professionalism has saved hundreds of thousands of lives around the world," the state-owned flag-carrier's Chief Executive, Akbar Al-Baker, was quoted as saying. 

"Now it is our turn to give something back to those on the healthcare frontline," Baker said.

Medical staff - doctors, medical practitioners, nurses, paramedics, pharmacists, lab technicians and clinical researchers - will be selected daily to receive Qatar Airways promotion codes.

The promos can be used by medics to book up to two economy-class roundtrip tickets - one for themselves and one for a companion.

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"There are no words or gestures that are enough to repay these brave men and women," Baker said.

He added that the company hopes to grant medics the opportunity to enjoy a "well-deserved holiday", or visit family and friends.

As travel restrictions start to ease, Baker said the workers could also use the tickets to visit a travel destination "they have always dreamed of".

Read also: Qatar flies to the rescue with repatriation flights as coronavirus halts aviation

The giveaway winners, which will be announced next Tuesday. They will have until 26 November to book the flights, which will be flexible based on circumstances, according to the airline.

Selected health workers will also receive a discount voucher valid for Qatar Duty Free retail outlets in the Doha airport.

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