Doha-based Qatar is going up from 95 flights a week from Birmingham, Dublin, Edinburgh, Gatwick, Heathrow and Manchester to 115, an increase of 21%. It said average load factors on UK and European flights were increasing by around 3-5% week-on-week.
At Edinburgh, Qatar is going from seven flights a week to 14. Gatwick gains an extra three weekly frequencies (seven in total) and Heathrow another seven (49 in total). Dublin, meanwhile, is going up from 14 flights a week to 17. Qatar continues to fly to Doha 21 times a week from Manchester and seven times a week from Birmingham.
TTG has approached fellow Gulf carriers Emirates and Etihad for comment on any changes to their schedules in light of the news.
On Thursday (18 June), the UK Foreign Office relaxed its travel advice for Qatar and several other countries in the Middle East, including the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain.
By contrast, Ireland's Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is continuing to advise people to "avoid non-essential travel" to Qatar, the UAE and Bahrain.
While all three are notable destinations in their own rights, they are also major transit hubs providing onward connectivity to the Indian Ocean, the Far East and Australasia.
Several travel industry leaders welcomed the UK FCDO's decision on Thursday. "This is the most important development for tourism to and through the Middle East in some time,' said Abta Chief Executive Mark Tanzer.
Specialist Holidays Group Chief Executive Andy Freeth described the decision as "a vital and welcome step back towards reality", while Intrepid Travel's EMEA Managing Director Zina Bencheikh hailed it "a really positive step for British travellers and the industry".
She added: "For many hoping to travel long-haul, this will feel like the green light they've been waiting for."
Advantage Travel Partnership chief executive Julia Lo Bue-Said OBE was another to welcome the news, albeit while cautioning the conflict had "exposed a flaw" in travel's relationship with the FCDO's advice, particularly with regards to transit.
Tanzer has also stressed the situation "remains unpredictable", adding the industry "is not out of the woods yet". However, he acknowledged: "For now, this will be welcome news for many in travel."
British Airways hasn't made any immediate changes to its schedule, and nor has Virgin Atlantic.
Earlier this month, British Airways confirmed some of its Middle East flights will remain suspended throughout the summer season. Services to Abu Dhabi, Amman, Bahrain, Doha, Dubai, Tel Aviv, Jeddah and Riyadh remain either “cancelled or temporarily suspended”, BA said.
A Virgin Atlantic spokesperson said: "We cancelled our Riyadh service in March, and our seasonal Dubai service is on pause for the winter 2026 season – this remains the case."
