Qatar Airways is the flag carrier airline of Qatar, headquartered in Doha. It operates a hub-and-spoke network, linking over 150 international destinations across Africa, Asia, Europe, North America, South America, and Oceania from its base at Hamad International Airport (DOH).
Qatar Airways was founded in 1993 by the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani. The airline began operations in January 1994 and served just a few regional destinations with a small fleet of two leased Airbus A310s, and has since grown to become one of the world's leading airlines, renowned for its exceptional service and award-winning inflight experience. It is a member of the Oneworld alliance and has codeshare agreements with many other airlines.
Qatar Airways expanded rapidly in the following years, adding more destinations and acquiring new aircraft. In 1997, the airline ordered 23 aircraft from Airbus, including five A300-600Rs, four A319s, nine A320s, and five A330-200s. The airline also began flying to Europe in the late 1990s, with its first destination is Frankfurt, Germany.
In 2003, Qatar Airways became a member of the global airline alliance Oneworld, which allowed it to expand its network and offer its passengers access to a broader range of destinations. In 2004, the airline took delivery of its first Boeing 777-200LR aircraft, which allowed it to fly non-stop to destinations such as New York and Houston.
Over the next decade, Qatar Airways continued to grow its fleet and route network, becoming one of the world's leading airlines. It also invested heavily in its hub at Hamad International Airport in Doha, which opened in 2014 and has become one of the most advanced airports in the world.
In 2017, Qatar Airways faced a diplomatic crisis when several Arab countries, including Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain, and Egypt, cut diplomatic ties with Qatar, accusing it of supporting terrorism. This led to the airline being banned from operating in those countries' airspace, forcing it to reroute some of its flights and increasing its operating costs.
Despite these challenges, Qatar Airways has continued to expand, launching new routes and taking delivery of new aircraft, including the Boeing 787 Dreamliner and the Airbus A350. Today, Qatar Airways serves over 160 destinations worldwide, operates a fleet of over 200 aircraft, and has won numerous awards for its service and quality.