Qatar Airways has confirmed that Doha to Edinburgh will increase from 1x daily to 10x weekly. It'll take effect in early February. Edinburgh is one of four UK routes by Qatar Airways, joining London Heathrow, London Gatwick, and Manchester. There's no sign if or when Birmingham or Cardiff, both served pre-pandemic, will return.

Qatar grows Edinburgh to 10 weekly

The 3,451-mile (5,553km) link to the Scottish capital will rise to 10x weekly in February. Since Edinburgh launched in 2014, it has almost always been daily. According to OAG, it had 10 weekly flights on 19 occasions in 2019, all between July and October, and briefly in 2020. Growing to 10 weekly in February rather than July clearly indicates a strong return. It comes as the airport prepares for a record summer to North America as well.

Edinburgh Airport's Kate Sherry, Aviation Director, said,

"This increase in frequency is a real show of faith in the Edinburgh market, and we’re looking forward to working with Qatar Airways to further enhance and develop this important route to Doha in the future."

Speaking about it on LinkedIn, Edinburgh's Pavel Halas, Senior Aviation Manager, added,

"It has been nearly impossible to buy a seat on airlines that are flying to the EAST (Middle East, Asia and Africa) in 2022. Qatar’s frequency increase at EDI will ease some of these pressures, afford better connectivity to the EAST, and provide consumers with more choice."

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Qatar Airways to Edinburgh

When writing, the 10 weekly services in February are scheduled as follows, with all times local. The Boeing 787-8 is down for all flights:

  • Doha to Edinburgh: QR31, 01:20-06:10 (Tue, Thu, Sat), QR29, 07:40-12:30 (daily)
  • Edinburgh to Doha: QR30, 14:00-23:55 (daily), QR28, 07:45-17:40 (Tue, Thu, Sat)

Currently, Qatar Airways serves Edinburgh daily with a so-called split schedule. This is where it leaves in the very early morning (01:20) on four days and slightly larger (07:40) on the other three. This enables Qatar Airways to maximize two-way connectivity over its Doha hub.

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Qatar Airways Edinburgh top 10 transit markets
Image: GCMap.

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928,000 passengers carried so far

Qatar Airways inaugurated Edinburgh in May 2014. Between then and October 2022, it carried some 928,00 roundtrip passengers, according to the UK CAA.

Hardly surprisingly, 2019 was the best year to date. It transported just shy of 168,000 passengers, up by a fifth over 2018, the impact of the 10-weekly frequency clear. According to booking data, about 90% transited Doha, with the top ten transit markets shown above; notice no India. With 238,000 seats for sale, it achieved a low seat load factor of just 70%.

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In the first ten months of 2022, it carried 116,000 Edinburgh passengers, against 68,000 for 2020 and 2021 combined. In October 2022, it exceeded October 2019 traffic by 8%, the second month in a row that it surpassed pre-pandemic levels, with September 2022 up by 7%. No wonder Qatar Airways and Edinburgh are buoyed, with 2023 likely the best year yet for Edinburgh-Doha.

What do you make of it all? Let us know in the comment section.

  • Qatar Airways Airbus A350-1041A7-ANN
    Qatar Airways
    IATA/ICAO Code:
    QR/QTR
    Airline Type:
    Full Service Carrier
    Hub(s):
    Doha Hamad International Airport
    Year Founded:
    1993
    Alliance:
    oneworld
    CEO:
    Akbar Al Baker
    Country:
    Qatar