Qatar has become an important hub for Japanese nationals returning from the Middle East and Africa, as international flights have been suspended or reduced due to the worldwide spread of the new coronavirus. Direct flights from the country to Japan are still in service and are a "lifeline," according to a senior Foreign Ministry official.
According to the ministry, eight Japanese nationals left Jordan on April 2 aboard a Qatar Airways chartered plane and returned to Japan via Doha. There were also cases in which people returned to Japan from such areas as Mauritania in western Africa by traveling via Europe to Doha.
Qatar Airways is a flag carrier that covers a wide range of areas in the Middle East and Africa, and used to operate daily direct flights connecting Doha with Narita and Haneda airports. Due to the spread of the virus, flights to Haneda have been suspended since March 21, but flights to Narita are still operating.
At the request of the Japanese side, Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi held a telephone conversation with Qatari Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani and confirmed the continuation of direct flights to Japan.
"This sends a message to Japanese residents in the Middle East and Africa to return to Japan via Qatar as soon as possible," a senior Japanese government official said.
Read more from The Japan News at https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/
