DOHA- Qatar Airways (QR), based in Doha, has ended service to 20 long-haul destinations since 2016, reflecting major changes in its international network. Doha Hamad International Airport (DOH) remains the airline’s primary global hub.
The discontinued markets span Africa, the Americas, Asia, and Europe, with many cuts occurring during the COVID-19 period. The list also includes several routes removed in more recent years as Qatar Airways adjusted its network.
Qatar Airways’ Long-Haul Network Changes Since 2016
Qatar Airways has discontinued passenger services to 20 long-haul destinations during the past decade, based on schedule data analyzed through Cirium Diio. The review focuses on destinations that had at least 10 departures and no flights scheduled through the following summer.
The analysis excludes cases where Qatar Airways changed airports while continuing to serve the same city. This applies to Beijing, Berlin, Chengdu, Luanda, and Phnom Penh, where services moved to different airports rather than being completely withdrawn.
The 20 destinations therefore represent a defined group of long-haul markets that Qatar Airways has exited since 2016. The list does not represent every destination the airline has ever discontinued, Simple Flying reported.
Qatar Airways’ 20 Discontinued Long-Haul Destinations
| End Year | Region | Destination | IATA Code |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | Asia | U-Tapao (Pattaya), Thailand | UTP |
| 2020 | Africa | Gaborone, Botswana | GBE |
| 2020 | Africa | Rabat, Morocco | RBA |
| 2020 | Americas | Buenos Aires, Argentina | EZE |
| 2020 | Asia | Chiang Mai, Thailand | CNX |
| 2020 | Asia | Da Nang, Vietnam | DAD |
| 2020 | Asia | Krabi, Thailand | KBV |
| 2020 | Asia | Langkawi, Malaysia | LGK |
| 2020 | Asia | Yangon, Myanmar | RGN |
| 2020 | Europe | Cardiff, United Kingdom | CWL |
| 2020 | Europe | Gothenburg, Sweden | GOT |
| 2020 | Europe | Pisa, Italy | PSA |
| 2022 | Europe | St. Petersburg, Russia | LED |
| 2023 | Africa | Windhoek, Namibia | WDH |
| 2024 | Asia | Medan, Indonesia | KNO |
| 2024 | Europe | Toulouse, France | TLS |
| 2025 | Europe | Lyon, France | LYS |
| 2026 | Africa | Kano, Nigeria | KAN |
| 2026 | Europe | Hamburg, Germany | HAM |
| 2026 | Europe | Venice, Italy | VCE |
Some destinations in the source analysis were considered borderline medium-haul rather than strictly long-haul. These classifications can affect how the overall list is interpreted.
COVID-19 Drove Many of the Route Closures
The largest concentration of discontinued destinations occurred in 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic caused unprecedented disruption to international aviation.
Qatar Airways ended services to 13 of the 20 destinations in the table during 2020. The affected markets covered Africa, the Americas, Asia, and Europe.
The scale of the 2020 cuts should therefore be viewed in the context of the wider collapse in international air travel rather than as a normal year of network restructuring.
Qatar Airways’ Cardiff Service
Qatar Airways operated flights to Cardiff International Airport (CWL) from May 2018 until March 2020. The route sometimes operated daily, with the Boeing 787-8 used for almost all services.
The Airbus A350-900 operated the inaugural flight. Qatar Airways’ entry into Cardiff was also supported by substantial funding intended to attract the airline and reduce its exposure to the route’s financial risk.
UK Civil Aviation Authority data recorded about 91,000 passengers traveling between Cardiff and Doha in 2019. The route’s load factor was reported at about 59% based on available seats and passenger numbers.
Most passengers using the Cardiff service were connecting through Doha rather than traveling only between Wales and Qatar. This made the route part of Qatar Airways’ wider global connecting network.
Qatar Airways and Myanmar
Qatar Airways has maintained a long history of serving Myanmar, including Yangon International Airport (RGN). The airline first launched service to Myanmar in 2004 and operated the market until 2008.
The initial period included Airbus A319 and A300 aircraft. Qatar Airways later restored service in December 2016, initially using the Airbus A330-200.
The final departure in the period covered by the analysis took place in March 2020, using an Airbus A319.
For much of its operation, the Yangon service operated as a standalone route from Doha. During part of 2018, Qatar Airways also linked Yangon with Chiang Mai or U-Tapao in Thailand. The Airbus A319 was used on these services.
The route’s history demonstrates how Qatar Airways has adjusted schedules and aircraft types in response to market conditions and network requirements.
What the 20 Route Cuts Show
The discontinued destinations span four major geographic regions:
- Africa: Gaborone, Rabat, Windhoek, and Kano
- Americas: Buenos Aires
- Asia: U-Tapao, Chiang Mai, Da Nang, Krabi, Langkawi, Yangon, and Medan
- Europe: Cardiff, Gothenburg, Pisa, St. Petersburg, Toulouse, Lyon, Hamburg, and Venice
The timing of the cuts also varies considerably. While 2020 accounts for most of the discontinued markets, Qatar Airways continued making network changes in 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025, and 2026.
The data illustrates that international airline networks remain dynamic even for large global carriers. Route decisions can reflect changes in passenger demand, operating conditions, network strategy, airport arrangements, and broader disruptions.
Important Scope of the Analysis
The 20 destinations should not be interpreted as a complete historical list of Qatar Airways route cancellations. The analysis covers a specific period beginning in 2016 and applies minimum-departure and future-schedule criteria.
Destinations served from a different airport in the same city were also excluded. For example, Qatar Airways’ moves from Beijing Capital (PEK) to Beijing Daxing (PKX) and from Berlin Tegel (TXL) to Berlin Brandenburg (BER) represent airport changes rather than complete withdrawals from those cities.
Stay tuned with us. Further, follow us on social media for the latest updates.
Join us on Telegram Group for the Latest Aviation Updates. Subsequently, follow us on Google News
