The Big Cut: Qatar Airways Slashes London Flights For Spring 2026

Each week, airlines submit schedule changes to Cirium Diio, OAG, and other data providers. In the latest update, Qatar Airways disclosed several changes to its global network. For example, it has suspended flights to Aleppo and reduced services to London, Peshawar, San Francisco, Sialkot, etc.
This article will focus entirely on changes to Qatar Airways’ London operation. It is important to note that fellow oneworld member and close partner British Airways effectively serves Doha on the Qatari carrier’s behalf. No changes are coming to BA’s offering, with Doha far from being in that carrier’s ten longest routes list.
Qatar Airways’ London Changes
Credit: Shutterstock
Qatar Airways serves both Heathrow and Gatwick. Until the most recent schedule update, it had planned 951 departures to London between April and June. However, it now has 818 outbound flights, which is a 14% reduction. Note that Qatar Airways also plans fewer London services from July to September. But as the decrease is only 3% to 5%, it won’t be discussed further.
The airline’s offering can vary depending on the specific week. As such, let’s consider what’s available in the randomly chosen week starting May 1. Qatar Airways now has 59 weekly departures to London, down from the 70 that were planned last week.
What Does The New Schedule Look Like?
Credit: Shutterstock
Let’s stick with the week starting May 1. In those seven days, Gatwick will have 11 weekly departures, which was previously reduced from the originally planned double daily service. But the route will now have 11 weekly flights through September, too.
Meanwhile, Heathrow now has 48 weekly departures, down from 59, which is a reduction of nearly a fifth. It is believed that it’ll hand slots back to BA. Heathrow has lost 11 weekly flights, i.e., one to two daily services.
Frequency
New Schedule May 1-7: Doha-London; Local Times*
Frequency
New Schedule May 1-7: London-Doha; Local Times**
Daily
(Heathrow) 1:10 am-6:25 am (A380)
Five weekly
(Heathrow) 8:05 am-4:50 pm (A380/A350-900)
Three weekly
(Heathrow) 1:15 am-6:30 am (A350-900)
Five weekly
(Heathrow) 8:25 am-5:10 pm (A380)
Daily
(Gatwick) 1:35 am-6:40 am (787-9)
Daily
(Heathrow) 9:00 am-5:45 pm (A350-1000)***
Two weekly
(Heathrow) 2:15 am-7:30 am (777-300ER)
Daily
(Gatwick) 9:00 am-5:40 pm (787-9)
Weekly
(Heathrow) 2:45 am-8:00 am (777-300ER)
Four weekly
(Gatwick) 2:55 pm-11:35 pm (787-9)
Three weekly
(Heathrow) 8:00 am-1:15 pm (A350-1000/777-200LR/777-300ER)
Three weekly
(Heathrow) 3:05 pm-11:50 pm (A350-1000/777-200LR/777-300ER)
Four weekly
(Gatwick) 8:20 am-1:25 pm (787-9)
Four weekly
(Heathrow) 3:35 pm-12:20 am+1 (A350-1000/777-300ER)
Four weekly
(Heathrow) 8:50 am-2:05 pm (A350-1000/777-300ER)
Daily
(Heathrow) 4:00 pm-12:45 am+1 (A350-900)
Daily
(Heathrow) 8:55 am-2:10 pm (A350-900)
Three weekly
(Heathrow) 5:00 pm-1:45 am+1 (777-300ER)
Daily
(Heathrow) 12:45 pm-6:00 pm (777-200LR/777-300ER)
Daily
(Heathrow) 7:25 pm-4:10 am+1 (777-200LR/777-300ER)
Daily
(Heathrow) 3:10 pm-8:25 pm (A350-900)
Daily
(Heathrow) 9:55 pm-6:40 am+1 (A350-900)
Daily
(Heathrow) 4:55 pm-10:10 pm (A350-1000)
* The latest plan, which is subject to change. Shown in Simple Flying’s new time format
** The latest plan, which is subject to change. Shown in Simple Flying’s new time format
*** The aircraft that remained overnight
Related
United Airlines Cuts European Flights This Summer: What’s No Longer Available?
United is the only US Big Three carrier to have fewer European services in the peak summer. See why.
Where London Passengers Went
Credit: Shutterstock
According to booking data for the 12 months to November 2025, over 1.6 million Qatar Airways London passengers connected to another flight in Doha. Over 4,300 people did so daily. If Heathrow and Gatwick are combined, the top five country markets were London to/from India, Pakistan, Australia, Thailand, and Saudi Arabia.
At the airport level, Gatwick’s ten most popular segments were Colombo, Bangkok, Melbourne, Phuket, Lahore, Sydney, Kochi, Islamabad, Male, and Brisbane. From Heathrow: Kathmandu, Colombo, Bangkok, Islamabad, Lahore, Manila, Kochi, Karachi, Phuket, and Jeddah. Curiously, ultra-low-cost carrier Wizz Air serves Gatwick-Jeddah (and Medinah) with its A321XLRs.



