Qatar Airways is heading into the winter travel period with one of the most significant network boosts seen in recent years. The Doha-based carrier has announced nearly 3,000 additional flights for the winter schedule, strengthening its global connectivity and accommodating rising passenger demand across major routes.
The airline has been growing consistently throughout 2025 and recently secured the Skytrax award for World’s Best Airline for the ninth year in a row, a recognition that reflects passenger trust and service consistency. This latest network expansion focuses on some of the busiest international markets, including Singapore, Lagos, Kuala Lumpur and Shanghai, with many other global cities also seeing new frequencies.
For residents in the UAE, especially regular travellers flying from Dubai or Abu Dhabi via Doha, this expansion means better schedules, more seat availability during peak months, and improved flexibility for long-haul connections. Winter is traditionally one of the busiest periods for outbound travel from the Gulf, and these added flights are expected to ease pressure on booking pipelines.
Winter Demand Is Surging Globally
The winter peak aligns with school breaks, year-end holidays, business travel recovery and increased inbound tourism to the region. Many passengers across the GCC prefer Doha as a hub due to the short flight connections, strong hospitality standards and the overall reliability of Qatar Airways’ network.
The last two years have also seen more travellers branching out to new destinations, with Southeast Asia, Africa and China emerging as top choices for winter holidays and business routes. Adding these new flights helps the airline stabilise its schedule and offer dependable options during a time of high traffic.
For travellers from Dubai and the UAE, the airline’s service improvements mean fewer waitlists, better long-haul timings and easier transit flow through Doha’s world-class airport infrastructure.
More Flights To Kuala Lumpur
Kuala Lumpur remains one of Qatar Airways’ strongest Southeast Asian destinations. Starting December 17, 2025, the airline will increase flights from 14 to 17 per week, giving travellers more morning and evening options.
This added capacity also supports the growing movement between the Middle East and key destinations in Europe. Passengers travelling to cities like London, Paris or Jeddah from Southeast Asia will see faster, more convenient transfer timings through Doha.
The Malaysian capital continues to be a popular choice among UAE residents looking for a balance of city life, nature and food experiences, which makes these additional seats well-timed for the peak season.
Lagos Benefits From Increased Connectivity
Nigeria remains a central aviation hub for West Africa, and demand on the route is consistently high. From December 15, 2025, until March 28, 2026, Qatar Airways will operate 14 flights per week instead of the earlier 10, offering a smoother schedule and more choice for travellers connecting through Doha.
This increased capacity strongly supports business and corporate travel, with many passengers across the GCC frequently flying to Lagos for trade, commerce and international operations. It also benefits families and expatriates travelling home for the winter period.
Passengers flying from Dubai or Abu Dhabi will have smoother itinerary planning and better access to Lagos without needing to navigate limited-seat situations during the peak period.
Shanghai Flights Expanded As China Demand Rises
Shanghai continues to rebound as a major global gateway, and Qatar Airways is responding accordingly. Between January 1 and March 28, 2026, the airline will increase services to 10 flights weekly instead of 7, targeting both inbound and outbound traffic.
Business travel to and from China has picked up sharply, and many GCC passengers fly onward from Shanghai to other key Chinese cities. The added flights offer improved connection times for those continuing deeper into mainland China.
For Dubai residents, this is particularly useful, considering China’s importance in trade, manufacturing and global commerce, industries where many UAE-based companies maintain cooperative projects.
Singapore Gets Additional A380 Services
Singapore is another route seeing a major upgrade, but this time in terms of aircraft capacity. From January 12, 2026, Qatar Airways will operate the Airbus A380 on select Singapore flights.
This means passengers will see a mix of Boeing 777, Airbus A350 and the A380, one of the most spacious wide-body aircraft in commercial service. The airline has also equipped many of these aircraft with Starlink high-speed Wi-Fi, becoming the first carrier in the world to roll this out across 100 wide-body jets.
This upgrade is likely to appeal to business travellers and tech-savvy passengers, especially those who value consistent, high-speed connectivity on long-haul routes.
For Travellers In The UAE
With winter travel peaking every year, more flights mean easier planning for families and individuals. Whether someone is booking a winter holiday to Southeast Asia or connecting to Africa or East Asia for work, this expanded schedule reduces waiting lists and improves access to premium cabins that fill quickly during winter months.
It also reinforces Doha’s position as one of the strongest global aviation hubs, often chosen by UAE travellers due to convenient transit connections and a dependable flying experience.
Internal linking opportunities within Social Kandura news coverage may include:
- UAE residents planning winter holidays
- Updates on global airline expansions
- Airport improvements and regional aviation developments
- Travel and tourism trends impacting the GCC
These stories give readers wider context on why airlines are increasing frequencies and how the region is shaping up as a key travel market.
Qatar Airways’ decision to add nearly 3,000 winter flights showcases the rising global demand for travel and the growing confidence in long-haul aviation. For residents across the UAE and GCC, the changes mean improved schedules, greater seat availability and more flexibility when planning international trips in the coming months.
Read More:
- Where to Watch UAE National Day Fireworks: 10 Stunning Spots Across The Emirates – Social Kandura
- Dubai’s Best Christmas Brunches & Dinners around the city – Social Kandura
Follow Social Kandura for more updates on local news and things to do in Dubai and across the UAE.
