Qatar Airways Adds More UK Departures as Network Recovery Continues

Crystal Travel | Travel News | 1 July 2026

Qatar Airways boosts weekly frequencies across Africa, Asia, and the Middle East, with UK-Doha capacity rising as more aircraft return to service.

Qatar Airways Route Network Nears Full Recovery

Qatar Airways has confirmed that almost its entire route network is now back in operation. The airline's Doha hub remains a key connection point for travellers heading to Africa, Asia, the Middle East and Oceania, with more destinations now accessible than at any point in recent years. Only two major routes, Zanzibar (ZNZ) and Canberra (CBR), are yet to resume.

Qatar Airways Network Update: Most Routes Now Restored

Qatar Airways has been steadily rebuilding its schedule in line with the wider recovery seen across the aviation industry, as airlines around the world continue to restore capacity following a period of reduced operations. Most of the airline's former destinations are now served again, restoring long-haul connections through Hamad International Airport in Doha and giving passengers renewed access to routes that had previously been limited or unavailable.

Qatar Airways Increases Frequencies on Key Global Routes

Qatar Airways Increases Weekly Flights on Several Key Routes

From 16 June, Qatar Airways increased flight frequencies on a number of international routes, providing travellers with more choice when planning journeys to Africa, the Middle East and Asia.

Alexandria has increased from three to seven weekly flights. Cairo has increased from 28 to 35 weekly flights, reflecting continued demand for travel to Egypt. Cape Town has increased from seven to ten weekly flights, while Dar es Salaam has increased from three to seven weekly flights, strengthening links to East Africa. Kathmandu and Kuala Lumpur have both increased from 14 to 21 weekly flights, offering greater flexibility for travellers heading to South and Southeast Asia.

Qatar Airways has said further frequency increases are planned across the network as more aircraft return to service in the coming months, with additional routes likely to see similar boosts.

UK to Doha Flights: Weekly Departures by Airport

UK travellers are among those set to benefit most from the airline's expanding schedule.

Current weekly departures from Doha to the UK are as follows:

London Heathrow: 49 flights.
Manchester: 21 flights.
Edinburgh: 14 flights.
London Gatwick: 7 flights.
Birmingham: 7 flights.

Overall, UK-Doha capacity is currently running at around 65% of previous levels. Qatar Airways expects this figure to continue rising as more aircraft return to active service, meaning further increases to UK departures are likely over the coming months.

What the Network Expansion Means for Travellers

The increased number of flights offers several clear benefits for passengers planning both short- and long-haul journeys:

Better connectivity across Africa, Asia, the Middle East and Oceania, with more direct and connecting options available through Doha. More flexible travel options, including a wider choice of departure times and improved scheduling for onward connections. Increased seat availability on popular routes such as Cairo, Cape Town, and Kuala Lumpur, which may also support more competitive fares as capacity grows.

For UK travellers, the added departures from Heathrow, Manchester, Edinburgh, Gatwick and Birmingham mean greater flexibility when booking flights via Doha, whether travelling for business or planning a holiday further afield. With five UK airports now served, passengers across the country have more convenient access to Qatar Airways' expanding network than before.

Qatar Airways Network Recovery Set to Continue

Qatar Airways is expected to keep expanding its network in the coming months, with further frequency increases likely across existing routes. The airline has also indicated that remaining destinations, including Zanzibar and Canberra, could return to the schedule as additional aircraft come back into service.

For now, travellers already have considerably more flight options than in recent years, particularly for journeys connecting through Doha to destinations across Africa, Asia, the Middle East and beyond.

Anyone looking to take advantage of these expanded routes and additional UK departures can speak to Crystal Travel's agents, who can help identify the most suitable flights via Doha to match individual travel plans and budgets.