00:00Running a global airline from this part of the world means operating in a region that can change very quickly.
00:05War, airport closures, and sudden disruptions can change flight plans overnight.
00:11Here in Doha, we've been getting a behind-the-scenes look at how Qatar Airways keeps the operations moving through
00:16that uncertainty.
00:18That starts here, inside one of the airline's maintenance facilities.
00:22Qatar Airways maintains its aircraft in-house, with 22 specialized workshops handling everything,
00:27from structural inspections to cabin interiors.
00:30And after months of regional instability, being ready for disruption has become part of the job.
00:36From what we faced in the last six months from geopolitical situation,
00:42as Qatar Airways, we are always ready for worst-case scenario.
00:46We work very closely with all the other stakeholders and our colleagues in different areas within the airline and the
00:55group
00:55to ensure that our safety and passenger safety has the highest priority.
01:02One of the biggest tests came on February 28th, when Qatar closed its airspace amid missile and drone interceptions.
01:09Around 8,000 passengers were stranded in Doha, with another 8,400 stuck across the Qatar Airways network.
01:16Passengers were moved into 61 hotels, while some were taken over land to Saudi Arabia to continue their journeys.
01:23You can plan as much as you want, right, but you can't see the future.
01:27That's the challenge that we have.
01:28With routes returning and more flights being added globally.
01:32At the airline's integrated operations center, teams monitor more than 500 flights a day,
01:38responding to disruption across the network around the clock.
01:41The airline says it has also updated its standard operating procedures following recent disruptions.
01:47We are still in a crisis.
01:48We do have some challenges in terms of airflow restrictions and the domino effect that it has on the operation.
01:54However, with the SOPs in place and with the lessons learned that we've gone through over the last couple of
01:59months,
01:59I think we're in a solid position.
02:01The airline says passenger numbers have recovered to around 90 to 95 percent of last year's levels.
02:26For a global airline, disruption can come from almost anywhere.
02:34Adil Haleem, Euronews, Doha.
02:38Adil Haleem, Euronews
02:38B
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