Qatar Airways operated the world’s first fully COVID-19 vaccinated flight this week. QR6421 departed Hamad International Airport at 11 a.m. on Tuesday (April 6) carrying only vaccinated crew and passengers onboard, with passengers also served by fully vaccinated staff at check-in.

The special “flight to nowhere” lasted three hours and was designed to showcase airline’s stringent safety and hygiene standards on board, including what it says it’s the world’s first ‘Zero-Touch’ in-flight entertainment technology.

The special service was also operated by the airline’s most technologically advanced and sustainable aircraft, the Airbus A350-1000, with the flight also fully carbon offset in line with the carrier’s environmental responsibilities.

“Today’s special flight demonstrates the next stage in the recovery of international travel is not far away,” said Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive Akbar Al Baker. “We are proud to continue leading the industry by operating the first flight with a fully vaccinated crew and passengers and providing a beacon of hope for the future of international aviation.”

Qatar Airways is the first airline in the Middle East to begin trials of the new IATA Travel Pass ‘Digital Passport’ mobile app, which ensures passengers receive up-to-date information on COVID-19 health regulations at their destination country, as well as complying with strict global data privacy regulations to enable the sharing of COVID-19 test results with airlines to verify they are eligible to undertake their journey.