According to multiple reports, Qatar Airways has banned a popular aviation Youtuber for posting a video that criticized the airline after one of his flights aboard the Middle East carrier.
In August 2023, Josh Cahill, a renowned YouTuber known for his insightful airline reviews, released a video that critically examined the service quality of Qatar Airways. Titled “The Shocking Decline of Qatar Airways,” the video quickly captured the attention of the aviation community, amassing nearly 600,000 views.
This significant viewership did not go unnoticed by the executives at Qatar Airways, who are now aware of the impact and reach of Cahill’s review.
Cahill Called Out Qatar for its 'Substandard' Flight
In his video detailing his experience with Qatar Airways, Cahill shares his journey from Colombo, Sri Lanka, to London Heathrow, with a stopover in Doha. He expresses disappointment in several aspects of the flights, which, according to him, fell short of the standards expected from an airline often regarded as one of the best in the world.
Cahill highlights issues such as unclean bathrooms, outdated cabins, and a lack of enthusiasm from the crew. These observations, coming from a seasoned traveler like Cahill, shed light on the potential discrepancies between the airline’s acclaimed reputation and the actual experience of passengers.
Qatar Had a 'Meeting' with Cahill Where They Asked Him to Take the Video Down
Qatar representatives from the airline approached him with a request to remove negative comments from his video that pertained to Qatar Airways. Upholding his principles of transparency and integrity, Cahill declined this request.
Qatar Banned Him from Future Flights
Subsequent to his initial interactions with Qatar Airways, Josh Cahill faced another surprising turn of events. He revealed that during a recent trip, where he was scheduled to fly from Abu Dhabi to Bangkok via Doha on Qatar Airways, he encountered an unexpected issue at the Abu Dhabi Airport. During check-in, Cahill was informed by the staff that his booking had been canceled, and he was subsequently barred from making future bookings with the airline.
Cahill later received an email from Qatar Airways explaining the decision. The airline cited Articles 8 and 12 of its “Contract of Carriage,” which stipulate the need for permission to film on their aircraft. Cahill pointed out that this policy hadn’t been strictly enforced in the past, as evidenced by several YouTubers, including himself, who had previously posted positive reviews without facing similar restrictions. This development raises questions about the airline’s policy enforcement and its response to critical reviews.