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Qatar Airways Company Q.C.S.C., operating as Qatar Airways, is the flag carrier of Qatar, renowned for its world-class service, extensive global network, and commitment to excellence. Headquartered at Qatar Airways Tower in Doha, the airline operates from its primary hub at Hamad International Airport (DOH), voted the World’s Best Airport by Skytrax in 2021, 2022, and 2024. Below is a detailed overview of Qatar Airways’ history, operations, fleet, services, sustainability efforts, challenges, and future outlook.
The airline currently operates a fleet of more than 200 aircraft. Qatar Airways Group employs more than 43,000 people. The carrier has been a member of the Oneworld alliance since October 2013, and the official company slogan has been "Going Places Together" since 2015.
Qatar Airways was established in November 1993 and began operations in January 1994 with a small team of 75 staff, led by then-CEO Sheikh Hamad Bin Ali Bin Jabor Al Thani. Initially a regional carrier, the airline was relaunched in 1997 under the leadership of Akbar Al Baker, who served as CEO until November 2023. Fully owned by the Qatari government since July 2013, when it acquired a 50% stake from former shareholders, Qatar Airways has grown into one of the world’s fastest-growing full-service carriers. The airline joined the Oneworld alliance in October 2013, enhancing connectivity with partners like British Airways, American Airlines, and Cathay Pacific.
Key milestones include the introduction of the Boeing 787 Dreamliner in 2012, making Qatar Airways the first Middle Eastern airline to operate this aircraft, with services starting on the Doha–Dubai route. In 2013, the airline launched flights to destinations like Chicago, Phnom Penh, and Ethiopia, and opened a European Customer Service Centre in Wrocław, Poland. In 2017, Qatar Airways introduced the revolutionary Qsuite business class, redefining luxury travel with privacy doors and customizable suites. The airline faced a significant challenge during the 2017–2021 Qatar diplomatic crisis, when several countries imposed an airspace blockade, forcing route adjustments. Despite this, Qatar Airways maintained growth, resuming flights to Damascus in January 2025 after a 13-year hiatus and announcing Malta services for July 2025.
In 2024, Qatar Airways reported a record profit of QAR 7.8 billion (USD $2.1 billion), a 28% increase, driven by strategic financing from Qatari banks, including a QAR 4.5 billion deal led by QNB. The airline also canceled a memorandum of understanding for 50 Boeing 737-10 MAX aircraft in 2025, reaffirming its commitment to Airbus with 50 A321neos pending, while maintaining a major Boeing widebody deal.
As of 2025, Qatar Airways operates a fleet of over 230 aircraft, including Airbus A320s, A330s, A350s, A380s, Boeing 737 MAXs, 777s, and 787 Dreamliners. The fleet supports a hub-and-spoke network, serving over 170 destinations across Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America, the Middle East, and North America from Hamad International Airport. Key routes include Doha to London Heatherow (56 weekly flights), Doha to Auckland (the third-longest nonstop flight globally at 9,032 miles), and U.S. cities like New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago. The airline operates codeshare agreements with 19 carriers, including Oneworld partners, and has expanded services to meet summer travel demand, with eight daily flights to London Heathrow starting October 2025.
Qatar Airways Cargo is the world’s leading international air cargo carrier, operating a dedicated freighter fleet and belly-hold capacity on passenger aircraft. The airline’s subsidiaries, including Qatar Aviation Services (ground handling), Qatar Aircraft Catering Company (QACC), and Qatar Executive (private jets), ensure comprehensive travel solutions. Qatar Duty Free, located at Hamad International Airport, is among the fastest-growing duty-free retailers globally.