Qatar Airways did not respond to an emailed request for comment. Dubai's Emirates has joined other airlines around world in asking pilots to take unpaid leave. Emirates, one of the world's biggest international airlines, did not immediately respond to an email request for comment. Emirates Group, which employed over 100,000 people, including about 4,000 pilots as of March 2019, asked staff to take unpaid leave earlier this month, although pilots were not included in the request then. Emirates has told staff the coronavirus epidemic could be the biggest challenge it has faced in many years.

Source: bd News24 March 18, 2020 10:18 UTC