Qatar Airways adds flights across six continents for 2026-27 winter season
Zanzibar returns as Australia, Europe and Saudi Arabia services expand
DOHA – Qatar Airways will expand its global network to more than 170 destinations during the 2026-2027 winter season, adding frequencies and resuming services across major markets on six continents.
The airline plans more than 186 weekly flights across Africa, Asia Pacific, Europe, the Americas and the Middle East, giving travellers increased options through its hub at Hamad International Airport in Doha. Several major changes will begin from October, with further additions running into early 2027.
The winter schedule includes the return of services to Zanzibar, Canberra, Qassim, Taif, Yanbu and Tabuk, alongside higher frequencies to destinations including London, Frankfurt, Phuket, Malé, Melbourne, Johannesburg and Montréal. Qatar Airways is also continuing the rapid expansion of Starlink connectivity across its fleet, with up to 340 Starlink-enabled flights expected to operate each day.
Africa expansion
Qatar Airways will resume daily flights to Zanzibar, Tanzania, from 25 October 2026, restoring a service aimed at strengthening connections between the destination and the airline's wider global network.
Services to Seychelles will also increase from four to seven flights a week from 1 March 2027. The additional frequencies will provide more options for passengers travelling to the Indian Ocean destination via Doha.
South Africa will receive additional capacity from 2 December 2026, when Qatar Airways increases its Johannesburg services from 14 to 18 weekly flights. The four additional services will provide greater flexibility for both business and leisure travellers.
The airline's expansion across Africa comes as it increases connectivity between the continent and its wider network, with Doha providing connections onwards to destinations across Europe, Asia, the Middle East and the Americas.
Asia Pacific growth
Asia Pacific accounts for some of the most significant frequency increases in the winter schedule. From 25 October 2026, flights to Phuket, Thailand, will rise from 14 to 21 weekly services. During the same period, services to Malé in the Maldives will increase from 12 to 21 flights a week.
Vietnam will also receive additional capacity. From 7 November 2026, flights to Ho Chi Minh City will increase from seven to 11 weekly services. This will include the reintroduction of four direct weekly flights between Doha and Ho Chi Minh City.
The existing Doha-Ho Chi Minh City-Phnom Penh service will continue, giving passengers another option while increasing overall capacity to Vietnam and the wider region.
Travellers flying between Doha and Kuala Lumpur will have 18 Qatar Airways services a week from 25 October. The schedule will be supplemented by Qatar Airways' oneworld partner Malaysia Airlines, which operates 14 weekly flights between Kuala Lumpur and Doha.
Australia will see a major change from 9 December, when Qatar Airways resumes daily flights to Canberra via Melbourne. The return of the service reconnects Australia's capital with the airline's international network, offering onward links to destinations across Africa, Europe, Asia and the Middle East.
Qatar Airways will also double its Melbourne frequency from seven to 14 weekly flights from the same date.
Virgin Australia will further expand its services to Doha in partnership with Qatar Airways. Sydney services will rise from seven to 14 weekly flights, taking the combined total with Qatar Airways to 21 weekly services. Brisbane will restart with three weekly flights, bringing the combined total to 10 weekly services, while Perth will restart with four weekly flights, taking the combined total to 11.
Europe and Americas
Qatar Airways is also adding capacity on several major European routes. From 25 October, London Heathrow services will increase from 49 to 56 flights a week, representing an 11 per cent increase in capacity.
The additional Heathrow flights will operate alongside British Airways' daily service between London and Doha, providing another option for passengers travelling between the two cities.
Frankfurt will also receive more services. From 7 December 2026, Qatar Airways will increase flights to the German gateway from 18 to 21 weekly services, with the additional capacity representing a seven per cent increase.
In North America, services to Montréal will increase from five to seven weekly flights from 25 October. Qatar Airways said the increase represents a 40 per cent boost in seat capacity and responds to growing demand for travel to Canada from the Indian Subcontinent and the Middle East.
Saudi network
Across the Middle East, Qatar Airways will increase its daily flight activity by 10 per cent during the winter season, with Saudi Arabia among the markets receiving a series of route resumptions.
Services to Qassim will resume on 25 October, followed by Taif on 31 October. Flights to Yanbu will return on 2 January 2027, while Tabuk services will resume on 3 January.
Each of the four Saudi destinations will be served twice weekly. The additions will take Qatar Airways' operations in Saudi Arabia to more than 155 weekly flights, an increase of more than 10 per cent compared with the summer schedule.
The expanded programme will take the airline's Saudi network to 12 destinations, increasing the number of options available for passengers travelling between the Kingdom and Qatar's global network.
Starlink rollout
Alongside the network expansion, Qatar Airways is accelerating the rollout of Starlink connectivity across its aircraft. The airline said up to 340 Starlink-enabled flights will operate daily, with more than 150 equipped widebody aircraft expected to provide the service across its network.
The rollout is designed to give passengers access to high-speed Wi-Fi during flights, with the technology becoming available across an increasing number of routes spanning six continents.
The wider winter programme is expected to reach nearly 1,800 weekly frequencies during December 2026, as Qatar Airways increases operations across its international network.
Bookings for the new and expanded services are available through Qatar Airways' website and mobile app. Privilege Club members can also access Starlink connectivity on eligible flights and earn or redeem Avios for benefits including upgrades, shopping and dining at Qatar Duty Free, and additional baggage.