Qatar Airways will boost capacity on 15 key routes for the 2025-26 winter season, adding 94 weekly flights and lifting London-Heathrow service to a record 10 daily departures. The Doha-based carrier says the expansion responds to "steady rise in demand" and will be timed to connect through Hamad International Airport's growing network. New frequencies also benefit Dublin, Cape Town, São Paulo, and Sharjah, while a Virgin Australia codeshare from Melbourne raises Australia-Qatar links to three daily flights.
Key Points
- Why it matters: Boosted lift positions Qatar Airways for peak winter demand and recovery-driven traffic.
- Travel impact: Travelers gain more seat availability, better connection times, and expanded award space on Oneworld partners.
- What's next: Canberra service restarts and Starlink Wi-Fi rolls onto Airbus A350s through 2026.
- Fourth bullet optional if needed.
- Fifth bullet optional if needed.
Snapshot
The 94-flight expansion spans Europe, Africa, Asia, North America, and the Middle East. Stand-out increases include Heathrow (from 8 to 10 daily), Sharjah (3 to 7 daily), and Johannesburg (14 to 18 weekly). Frequencies also climb on holiday staples-Maldives and Phuket now see up to four daily flights each. Qatar Airways' 54-strong Boeing 777 fleet already offers free Starlink Wi-Fi, and A350 retrofits are due within a year. The airline was named Skytrax "World's Best Airline" for a ninth time in 2025.
Background
Since reopening after pandemic restrictions, Qatar Airways has focused on rebuilding-and then surpassing-its pre-2020 network. The carrier serves more than 170 destinations from Doha, leveraging code-share partners like British Airways and Virgin Australia for beyond-gateway traffic. London has long been its largest market; the jump to 10 daily flights marks a 66-percent seat gain versus 2019. Australia remains strategic: a 24-hour "kangaroo corridor" via Doha offers faster one-stop options to Europe than routes over Asia. Aggressive fleet investment-a mix of Boeing 777s, Airbus A350s, and 787s-supports frequency growth while preserving a young average aircraft age of under eight years.
Latest Developments
Heathrow frequency hits double digits
Starting October 26, Qatar Airways will operate 66 weekly Doha-London flights-10 per day on peak Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, plus nine on other days-overtaking Emirates as the largest Gulf carrier at Heathrow. The surge mirrors 2024 traffic figures showing a 27-percent rise in premium-cabin demand on the route. British Airways' two-daily Doha rotations remain, providing up to 12 Oneworld-linked departures each way.
Virgin Australia boosts Melbourne link
A newly announced Virgin Australia codeshare will add a third daily Melbourne-Doha flight, timed for mid-morning Doha connections into Europe and Africa. The move revives Canberra flights, dormant since 2020, and strengthens Qatar Airways' position against Qantas-Emirates over Perth and Sydney.
Analysis
Qatar Airways' winter push underscores a broader Gulf-carrier shift from capacity restoration to strategic expansion. By layering incremental frequencies rather than launching untested destinations, the airline maximizes aircraft utilization while minimizing commercial risk. London's 10-daily milestone is significant: Heathrow slots are scarce and expensive, so the decision signals confidence in sustained demand and lucrative corporate contracts. Sharjah's jump from three to seven dailies targets regional commuters and taps connecting flows to the Indian subcontinent. Meanwhile, the Starlink Wi-Fi rollout differentiates Qatar Airways in both premium and economy cabins, appealing to tech-savvy travelers and corporate buyers who increasingly rank connectivity alongside flat-beds. Competitors may struggle to match free high-speed internet across entire wide-body fleets, giving Qatar Airways a soft-product edge that complements its renowned Qsuite hard product.
Final Thoughts
With a 94-flight uplift and record Heathrow service, Qatar Airways cements its status as a network-carrier bellwether. Travelers this winter will enjoy broader departure windows, smoother connections, and faster onboard Wi-Fi-proof that the "World's Best Airline" title still carries weight. Expect rivals to respond, but for now the competitive advantage lies with Doha and its ever-expanding Qatar Airways winter flights.