• 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

Qatar Airways is the world’s 12th largest international airline by passenger flights in May. If long-haul routes are considered, those over 3,000 miles (4,828km), it rises to third. It is beaten by United Airlines – helped by its fast growth – and fellow Middle Eastern carrier Emirates.

Qatar Airways in May

According to the latest data from Cirium, Qatar Airways has 6,244 non-stop departures from its Doha hub this May, an average of 201 each day. While flights are up by 5% over April, they remain 14% lower than the pre-pandemic.

The oneworld carrier will use 11 aircraft types and variants this spring month, as shown below. Notice how the B777-300ER, A320ceo, and B787-8 are its core; they have over six in every ten flights between them.

Because of its ongoing A350 problems, use of the Airbus widebody is at one of the lowest levels in three years. Indeed, A350 flights have reduced by a fifth in the past five months.

With a quarter of departures, the B777-300ER, four ex-Cathay Pacific, is the most used. Some 51 destinations will see it. These include Dubai Al Maktoum due to Dubai International's runway closure for resurfacing from May 9th. However, London Heathrow is the type's leading route, but it has more B777-300ER flights to Asia than any other continent.

  • B777-300ER: 1,555 departures from Doha in May (25% of its total flights); 51 destinations; Heathrow is #1; most flights by the type to Asia
  • A320ceo: 1,252 (20%); 55 destinations; Baghdad; Middle East
  • B787-8: 1,123 (18%); 56 destinations; Kuwait; Asia
  • A330-300: 480 (8%); 24 destinations; Kathmandu; Asia;
  • A350-900: 474 (8%); 35 destinations; Munich; Asia
  • A350-1000: 321 (5%); 21 destinations; Los Angeles; North America
  • B787-9: 304 (5%); 26 destinations; Lagos; Europe
  • B777-200LR: 249 (4%); 26 destinations; Johannesburg; Africa
  • A330-200: 227 (4%); 28 destinations; Colombo; Africa
  • A321ceo: 131 (2%); 14 destinations; Ankara; Asia
  • A380: 124 (1%); three destinations; Heathrow; Europe
Qatar Airways, Airbus A380
The A380 is used to Heathrow, Paris CDG, and Bangkok in May. They'll be joined by Sydney in June. Photo: Getty Images.

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Continents, countries

With 30% of flights, Asia is Qatar Airways' leading continent in May. It is followed by Europe, the Middle East, Africa, North America, Australasia, and (very much in last place) South America.

It serves only São Paulo in South America on a passenger basis, now with 2x daily flights by the B777-300ER.

Perhaps surprisingly, the country with the most service isn't India or Saudi Arabia. It is the US. According to Cirium, there are 497 departures and up to 17 daily across 12 routes. All are 1x daily or more, with JFK up to 3x daily.

US flights have risen by nearly 50% versus the pre-pandemic. While impressive, Qatar Airways' offering to Africa has grown by 58%. It serves 28 African cities in May, including recently introduced Kano and Port Harcourt. And more are coming soon.

A Qatar Airways Boeing 777 in OneWorld Livery flying in the sky.
Photo: Vincenzo Pace | Simple Flying.

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144 destinations in May

Cirium shows that São Paulo is one of 144 destinations in the carrier's passenger network. With 5x daily departures, Kuwait has more flights than anywhere else. In May, the short, 352-mile (567km) route sees the B787-8, B777-300ER, B777-200LR, A330-300, A320, A350-1000, A350-900, and B787-9.

The following 14 destinations all have 3x daily or more flights. Notice Bangkok, with one of its flights (QR836/QR937) by the A380.

  • Kuwait
  • Heathrow
  • Colombo
  • Kathmandu
  • Male
  • Jeddah
  • Amman
  • Beirut
  • Bangkok
  • Cairo
  • Paris CDG
  • Dhaka
  • Dammam
  • Johannesburg

Are you flying Qatar Airways this summer? If so, let us know where you're going in the comments.