Qatar Airways expands winter network to more than 170 destinations

International

Canberra and Zanzibar return to the network as the airline adds frequencies across Europe, Africa, Asia Pacific, North America and the Middle East

Qatar Airways is preparing a major expansion of its international network for the 2026/27 winter season, with more than 170 destinations and close to 1,800 weekly frequencies planned for December. The programme combines the resumption of several routes with additional flights to key markets including London, Frankfurt, Montréal, Johannesburg, Phuket and the Maldives. Daily services to Zanzibar will return on 25 October, while Canberra rejoins the network via Melbourne on 9 December.

Zanzibar returns as African capacity grows

Africa is one of the regions benefiting from the expanded winter programme. Qatar Airways will resume daily flights between Doha and Zanzibar from 25 October 2026, restoring direct access to one of East Africa’s leading leisure destinations.

Johannesburg will receive 18 weekly flights from 2 December, up from 14. Capacity to the Seychelles will also increase later in the season, with services rising from four to seven flights per week from 1 March 2027.

The additional frequencies strengthen connections through Doha for passengers travelling between Africa and markets in Europe, Asia and the Americas.

Phuket and Maldives rise to three daily flights

Some of the largest increases are planned for Asia Pacific. From 25 October, Qatar Airways will boost both Phuket and Malé to 21 weekly services. Phuket currently receives 14 flights per week, while Malé increases from 12, giving both leisure destinations three daily Qatar Airways services.

Ho Chi Minh City will increase from seven to 11 weekly flights from 7 November. Four nonstop Doha-Ho Chi Minh City frequencies will return alongside the existing Doha-Ho Chi Minh City-Phnom Penh operation.

Kuala Lumpur will receive 18 weekly Qatar Airways flights from 25 October. Malaysia Airlines, a fellow oneworld member, will complement these with 14 weekly services between Kuala Lumpur and Doha.

Canberra reconnects with the global network

Australia sees another significant expansion from 9 December, when Qatar Airways resumes daily flights to Canberra via Melbourne.

At the same time, Qatar Airways will double its Melbourne frequency from seven to 14 flights per week. Virgin Australia will provide additional capacity to Doha under its partnership with Qatar Airways.

Virgin Australia’s Sydney services will increase from seven to 14 weekly flights, creating a combined 21 weekly frequencies with Qatar Airways. Brisbane will return with three Virgin Australia flights per week, providing ten combined weekly services, while Perth will return with four Virgin Australia frequencies for a combined total of eleven.

London Heathrow reaches eight daily services

Qatar Airways is also adding capacity on some of its most important European routes. London Heathrow will increase from 49 to 56 weekly flights from 25 October, equivalent to eight Qatar Airways services per day. British Airways additionally operates a daily codeshare service between London and Doha.

Frankfurt will increase from 18 to 21 weekly flights from 7 December, giving the German financial centre three daily Qatar Airways services.

Across the Atlantic, Montréal will move from five to seven weekly flights from 25 October. Qatar Airways says the additional capacity is designed in part to meet growing demand between Canada, the Indian Subcontinent and the Middle East.

Four Saudi destinations return

The Middle East network will expand by around ten percent compared with the summer schedule. Four destinations in Saudi Arabia are returning to the Qatar Airways network.

Qassim services resume on 25 October, followed by Taif on 31 October. Yanbu returns on 2 January 2027 and Tabuk on 3 January. Each route will operate twice weekly.

The additions will take Qatar Airways’ Saudi Arabian network to 12 destinations and more than 155 weekly flights.

Starlink spreads across the network

The airline is accompanying its network expansion with a rapid rollout of Starlink connectivity. More than 150 widebody aircraft are now equipped with the satellite-based internet service, enabling Qatar Airways to operate as many as 340 Starlink-equipped flights per day across six continents.

With close to 1,800 weekly frequencies expected in December 2026, the winter schedule represents another substantial increase in Qatar Airways’ global scale. Rather than concentrating growth in a single region, the airline is adding capacity across mature business markets, long-haul connecting routes and major leisure destinations, further strengthening Doha’s role as an international transfer hub.