Coinciding with Qatar Airways’ launch of daily service from Boston (BOS), the Alliance for Workers Against Repression Everywhere called for a boycott against the state-owned airline as an act of disapproval toward the actions of the country. AWARE particularly brings attention to the high death rates currently occurring within Doha due to poor working conditions as migrant laborers rush to build facilities for the 2022 FIFA World Cup. Approximations indicate 29 migrant workers die per week, with totals estimated at 4,000 deaths.

While Qatar Airways frequently markets itself as a luxury, high-end airline, AWARE claims this luxury travel is built on the backs of abused workers and legal indentured servants. The nonprofit group points to airline mandates encouraging sexual discrimination and strict employee governance that dictates curfews and personal matters such as marriage, pregnancy and weight. It also brought overall state labor laws into question, calling out legislation allowing for domestic laborer exclusion, migrant employee detainment, unsanitary employee living conditions and refusal of wages.

AWARE issued a statement saying it does not believe the United States should be doing business with countries such as Qatar that blatantly disregard human rights on a consistent basis. “While we work to change government policy in the United States, consumers can speak now with their wallets and make travel choices other than Qatar Airways,” said Mike Lux, social justice advocate, AWARE. “Don’t fly with governments and airlines that have blood on their hands.”

In further action, AWARE is leading a social media campaign to raise awareness on the issue with #boycottQatar. Using the hashtag, some social media users are asking if soccer teams and players should take the boycott a step further by refusing to play in the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

Do you feel boycotting travel brands will bring attention to and possibly help solve social issues around the world? Do campaigns such as #boycottQatar encourage you to choose another airline when flying to the Middle East? Email us and let us know! Please include your full name and location with your email.