Qatar Airways Restores 85% Network as New Leaders Step In

Qatar Airways announced that it has restored 85 percent of its flight network after months of regional disruption.

The airline said its summer 2026 schedule now includes more than 140 daily departures from Doha to over 160 destinations worldwide.

Doha is one of the world’s major connecting hubs. Many passengers use the airline to travel between Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia, and the Americas. A stronger schedule gives travelers more route options and helps the airline rebuild confidence before the busy summer season.

New executives join the leadership team

The airline also announced two senior appointments. Abdulla Ali, currently Senior Vice President of Ground Services, will become Chief Operating Officer. Calum Laming, a former British Airways executive, will join as Chief Customer Officer.

Both executives will start on November 1, 2026, and report to Group Chief Executive Officer Hamad Al-Khater. The changes show that Qatar Airways is moving from emergency recovery to longer-term improvement. The airline now needs to keep its larger schedule stable while also improving the passenger experience.

Passenger service gets more attention

Calum Laming brings experience from British Airways, Etihad Airways, and Air New Zealand. His new role will focus on the full customer journey, including booking, airport service, onboard experience, loyalty, and support after travel.

Qatar Airways competes strongly in premium long-haul travel. Passengers expect smooth service at every stage, not only during the flight. The airline is also preparing future product upgrades, including the next generation of its Qsuite business class.

Operations must support the bigger schedule

Abdulla Ali’s promotion puts more focus on daily operations. His ground services background is useful for a hub airline, where check-in, baggage handling, transfers, and aircraft turnaround all affect punctuality.

As Qatar Airways adds back more flights, reliability becomes the main challenge. More destinations and departures bring more pressure on crews, airport teams, aircraft planning, and customer support.

Gulf aviation is moving closer to normal

Qatar Airways says its expanded summer schedule runs until September 15, 2026. Daily flights to Kuwait City are also expected to resume on June 21. The airline is still advising passengers to check its website or app because schedules can change.

Qatar Airways’ network recovery also fits the wider rebound in Middle East aviation after months of airspace disruption, route changes, and weaker hub traffic. Middle East airlines were facing a projected $4.3 billion loss in 2026, showing how deeply the conflict affected Gulf carriers, airports, and long-haul connecting traffic.

Photo by Md. Shaifuzzaman Ayon on Unsplash