Qatar Airways will soon use the A380 to Bangkok, and it is now bookable. It follows the Gulf carrier revealing that it is bringing back four more A380s for a total of eight.The return of Bangkok was inevitable, helped by Thailand scrapping the PCR requirement. Bangkok will join A380 service to London Heathrow and Paris CDG (both resumed late last year) and Sydney, which will see the double-decker quadjet from June 1st.

2x daily A380 flights to Bangkok

Qatar Airways will use the A380 to Bangkok from April 10th, starting in less than a week from when writing. The 3,285-mile (5,286km) route last saw the type in March 2019, over three years ago.

While initially used on one of its 3x daily flights, Doha to Bangkok will see 2x daily A380 service from August.

The schedule of A380 to Bangkok is as follows, with all times local. Not since mid-2016 has the carrier had so many flights by the type to Bangkok.

  • Doha to Bangkok: QR836, 02:20-13:10; starting April 10th
  • Bangkok to Doha: QR837, 02:30-05:45; beginning April 11th
  • Doha to Bangkok: QR830, 20:15-07:05+1; starting August 5th
  • Bangkok to Doha: QR831, 19:25-22:40; beginning August 6th

Notice that the aircraft will remain in Thailand for 12 to 13 hours, with such ground time for connectivity reasons. It's the same for PLAY, and its long ground time in Florida.

Qatar-Airways-A380s-to-Bangkok-1
Qatar Airways first used the A380 to Bangkok in December 2014. Source of data: OAG.

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That makes four A380 routes

Qatar Airways' A380 operations will be as follows in a week in mid-August. There will be 6x daily departures from Doha, down by a quarter versus the pre-pandemic from no double-decker to Frankfurt, Perth, or Melbourne.

  1. Bangkok: 2x daily; leaving Doha at 02:30 and 20:15; arriving in Doha at 05:45 and 22:40
  2. Heathrow: 2x daily; departing Doha at 01:55 (time varies per day) and 08:05; coming home at 17:40 (time varies per day) and 23:45
  3. Paris: 1x daily; leaving Doha at 07:55; arriving back at 23:25
  4. Sydney: 1x daily; departing Doha at 20:15; coming home at 04:55 on day three
Qatar Airways' A380 network in mid-August 2022, as of April
Qatar Airways' A380 network in mid-August 2022, as of April. Image: GCMap.

The schedule needs seven aircraft

Not helped by the long ground time in Bangkok and the distance of Sydney, the above requires seven aircraft. Assuming one aircraft continues to be used as a spare, that will account for the eight aircraft.

As Qatar Airways previously operated 10 A380s, it'll be fascinating to see if it brings back the remaining two aircraft. There is no indication that it will, but it seems improbable to leave two aside, especially given the ongoing A350 problems and as demand recovers.

Do you plan to fly the A380 this year? If so, where and with which airline? Let us know in the comments.