Qatar Airways Targets 120-Plus Global Destinations by Mid-May as Doha Rebuilds from Iran War Disruption
Qatar Airways has released its latest revised schedule, confirming that the carrier will serve more than 120 destinations by mid-May 2026. The announcement represents one of the most consequential network restoration milestones since the airline’s operations were severely disrupted in late February.
All services to and from Doha continue to operate through dedicated flight corridors, established in close coordination with the Qatar Civil Aviation Authority (QCAA).
Recommended - Read Full Reports
Read All Reports
What Triggered the Near-Total Grounding?
On February 28, 2026, the United States and Israel launched large-scale military strikes on Iranian targets. Iran responded with widespread retaliatory missile and drone attacks across the Gulf region, targeting countries hosting US military bases.
Qatar, which hosts the Al Udeid Air Base, was directly in the crossfire. Iranian missile strikes were reported at Al Udeid, forcing the QCAA to close Qatari airspace entirely. Qatar Airways suspended all scheduled flight operations within days.
The disruption was not isolated. According to aviation analytics firm Cirium, more than 30,000 flights to the Middle East were cancelled across the duration of the conflict.
Dubai International Airport also suffered drone-related incidents, leaving tens of thousands of transit passengers stranded across Gulf hubs.
The Recovery: A Step-by-Step Rebuild
Key Recovery Milestones (Qatar Airways, 2026):
Feb 28 Qatari airspace closes; all QR flights suspended
Mar 7 Limited air corridor activated; repatriation flights begin
Mar 13-15 Doha-Perth, Doha-Seoul, Doha-Istanbul operations restart
Mar 18 Limited schedule resumes; transit (connecting) passengers allowed
Mar 26 90+ destinations served under revised schedule
Apr 1 New schedule released targeting 120+ destinations by mid-May
Mid-May 2026 Target: 120+ global destinations operational
At the lowest point of the crisis, Qatar Airways operated roughly 15 daily departures from Doha, compared to its pre-war level of approximately 150 daily flights. That represents a drop to about just 10% of normal operational capacity.
The airline initially restricted flights to point-to-point routes only, with no transit connections permitted. That restriction was lifted on March 18, 2026, a critical step for an airline whose over 80% of traffic transits through Doha rather than originating or terminating there.
What 120 Destinations Actually Covers
The revised schedule spans all six major global regions, with a phased rollout of new and returning destinations.
Africa receives strong attention in the rebuild. Major commercial centers, including Johannesburg, Nairobi, Lagos, and Cairo, are already operational. New resumptions include Abidjan and Accra from April 16, and Kinshasa and Luanda from May 16. This reflects Qatar Airways’ long-standing strategy of using Doha as a connecting gateway between Africa and Asia.
The Americas maintain strong North American coverage with Chicago, Dallas, Miami, Toronto, New York, and Washington already active. Seattle returns April 16, and San Francisco is scheduled for June 11. Sao Paulo remains the primary South American anchor point.
Asia carries the most extensive restoration list. Cities including Bangkok, Beijing, Mumbai, Manila, Jakarta, Singapore, and Tokyo are central to the rebuild. Hangzhou, Chengdu, Chongqing, and Goa are phased back in from mid-May, reinforcing the airline’s commitment to China and the Indian subcontinent.
Europe restores core trunk routes first. London Heathrow, Paris, Frankfurt, Amsterdam, and Madrid are active. Geneva and Stockholm return April 16, with Nice, Ankara, and London Gatwick following from mid-May. Mediterranean summer markets including Mykonos, Antalya, Bodrum, Malaga, and Trabzon come back from late May.
The Middle East network includes Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam, Muscat, and Salalah, with Al Ula and Red Sea services added from April 16 and Medina from May 1.
The Pacific is anchored by Australia, with Melbourne, Perth, and Sydney active, and Brisbane returning May 16.