Qatar Airways
QatarFull-service carrieroneworld memberSince 1993
Qatar Airways is the national airline of the State of Qatar, a full-service carrier based at Hamad International Airport in Doha. Its newsroom listed more than 170 destinations as of 2026. Qatar Airways has been a member of the oneworld alliance since October 2013 and runs the Privilege Club loyalty programme.
Direct connection available on ReservationHub- Founded
- 1993
- First flight
- 1994-01
- Headquarters
- Doha, Qatar
- Country
- Qatar
- Main hubs
- Hamad International Airport (DOH)
- Airline type
- Full-service carrier
- Alliance
- oneworld
- Loyalty
- Privilege Club
- Parent
- Qatar Airways Group
- Ownership
- Owned by the State of Qatar; it became fully government-owned in July 2013 after the Qatar Investment Authority bought out private shareholders.
- Callsign
- QATARI
- Website
- qatarairways.com
How travel agents book Qatar Airways
GDS distribution
Qatar Airways content is sold through the major GDSs. Travelport signed a long-term agreement in February 2022 covering traditional content, NDC content and rich merchandising on Travelport+, and Qatar Airways NDC fares are bookable on Sabre through Sabre Red 360 and Sabre's NDC-enabled APIs.
NDC
Qatar Airways gained IATA NDC Level 3 certification in December 2017. Its NDC content and servicing (changes and cancellations) went live on Travelport+ in March 2024 in 19 markets including the UAE, Saudi Arabia, India, Australia and the UK, and it was the first EMEA-based airline to make NDC offers bookable on Sabre.
Notes for travel agents
Qatar Airways has said NDC is part of its strategy to grow ancillary sales through indirect channels, so NDC offers may include fare bundles and extras not visible in traditional GDS content. Check NDC availability for your point of sale in Travelport+ or Sabre before relying on it.
On ReservationHub
Qatar Airways is one of the direct airline connections listed on our integrations page, alongside GDS (Amadeus, Sabre, Travelport) and NDC content. Agencies get it in the SaaS platform; developers through the Travel API.
History of Qatar Airways
Qatar Airways was set up in 1993 and began flying in January 1994. Its first shareholders were local private investors, and in its early years it operated as a modest regional airline.
In 1997 the airline was recapitalised and relaunched with a new strategy built around premium service and long-haul growth. Akbar Al Baker, previously of the country's civil aviation department, became chief executive that year and led the airline's expansion for more than two decades. During this period Qatar Airways was a public-private partnership, with roughly half of the shares in private hands.
In July 2013 the airline became fully owned by the state after the Qatar Investment Authority bought out the private shareholders. Later that year, on 29 October 2013, it joined oneworld, about a year after being invited, which the alliance described as one of its fastest inductions. Hamad International Airport opened in 2014 and replaced the old Doha airport as the airline's home.
Qatar Airways has also been an early adopter of IATA's New Distribution Capability. In December 2017 it became the first airline in the Africa and Middle East region to gain NDC Level 3 certification.
Milestones
- 1993Qatar Airways is established in Doha.
- 1994Flight operations begin in January.
- 1997Airline is recapitalised and relaunched with a premium, long-haul strategy.
- 2013Becomes fully government-owned in July and joins oneworld on 29 October.
- 2014Hamad International Airport opens as the new Doha hub.
- 2017Achieves IATA NDC Level 3 certification, a first for the Africa and Middle East region.
- 2022Travelport agreement adds Qatar Airways NDC content to Travelport+.
- 2024NDC content and servicing go live on Travelport+ in 19 markets.
Fleet
Aircraft types in service as of 2026
The airline's fleet page lists Airbus A320-200, A350-900, A350-1000 and A380 aircraft alongside Boeing 787-8, 787-9, 777-200LR and 777-300ER, with several seating layouts per type. Qatar Airways does not publish type-by-type counts on that page. Its newsroom reported Starlink Wi-Fi fitted to nearly 170 widebody aircraft in 2026.
Network and hubs
Qatar Airways runs a hub-and-spoke network through Hamad International Airport (DOH) in Doha, connecting Europe, Asia, Africa, the Americas and Oceania. The airline's newsroom listed more than 170 destinations as of 2026.
As a oneworld member, it sells connections with partners such as British Airways, American Airlines and Cathay Pacific, and Privilege Club members earn Avios on eligible oneworld flights. Recent network announcements include a WestJet codeshare and planned flights to Western Sydney International Airport from 2027.
Qatar Airways: frequently asked questions
What are Qatar Airways' IATA and ICAO codes?
Qatar Airways uses the IATA airline code QR, the two-letter code shown on tickets and in booking systems. Its ICAO designator is QTR and its radio callsign is QATARI. The IATA directory lists the operating company as Qatar Airways Group Q.C.S.C., trading as Qatar Airways.
Is Qatar Airways in oneworld?
Yes. Qatar Airways joined the oneworld alliance on 29 October 2013, with its first oneworld flights operating the next morning. Privilege Club members can earn Avios and Qpoints on eligible oneworld flights, and top-tier members receive oneworld status benefits such as lounge access across partner airlines.
Where is Qatar Airways' hub?
Qatar Airways is based at Hamad International Airport (DOH) in Doha, which opened in 2014 and replaced the old Doha International Airport. Almost all of the airline's long-haul network connects through Doha, linking Europe, Asia, Africa, the Americas and Oceania with more than 170 destinations as of 2026.
Does Qatar Airways use NDC?
Yes. Qatar Airways reached IATA NDC Level 3 certification in December 2017, the first airline in the Africa and Middle East region to do so. Its NDC offers are available to agencies on Travelport+, live since March 2024 with servicing support, and on Sabre through Sabre Red 360 and Sabre's NDC APIs.
How do travel agents book Qatar Airways?
Most agencies book Qatar Airways through a GDS such as Travelport or Sabre, using either traditional content or NDC offers where their market has been enabled. NDC bookings on Travelport+ can be changed and cancelled within the platform. Agencies should confirm NDC availability for their point of sale before switching workflows.
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Book a meetingSources
- Qatar Airways — Group announces strongest financial results in its history (May 2025)
- Qatar Airways — First airline in Africa and Middle East to achieve NDC Level 3 (December 2017)
- Qatar Airways — Our fleet
- Qatar Airways — Newsroom
- oneworld — Qatar Airways joins oneworld (October 2013)
- oneworld — Member airlines: Qatar Airways
- Travelport — Comprehensive agreement with Qatar Airways including NDC (February 2022)
- Travelport — NDC content and servicing for Qatar Airways on Travelport+ (March 2024)
- Travolution — Qatar Airways first EMEA carrier to make NDC products available on Sabre
- Gulf Times — Qatar Airways a fully government-owned entity now (May 2014)
- Encyclopedia.com — Qatar Airways Company Q.C.S.C. (company history)
- Breaking Travel News — Qatar Airways: a journey through history
- IATA — Airline and location code search
- FAA — JO 7340.2N Contractions (ICAO three-letter designators and telephony)