Qatar Airways utilizes Airbus A350 for short-haul flights

Qatar Airways was the launch customer for the Airbus A350 program, signing an agreement in May 2007. Despite development delays, it received its first A350-900 in December 2014 and began operations shortly after. The airline expanded its network using these jets across Europe and Asia due to their enhanced fuel efficiency.

By February 2023, following a confidential settlement with Airbus over fuselage surface issues, Qatar Airways refurbished and returned its grounded A350 fleet to service.

Currently, Qatar Airways operates one of the largest fleets of Airbus A350s globally, with plans to expand further by acquiring more units in coming years. The airline uses both A350-900 and A350-1000 models on regional routes throughout the Middle East and Gulf region.

Data from aviation analytics firm Cirium indicates that Qatar Airways deploys its A350 fleet on various regional routes from Doha Hamad Airport to high-volume hubs like Abu Dhabi and Dubai. The airline also serves other Gulf destinations such as Bahrain, Muscat, and Kuwait City.

Some routes extend beyond regional distances but still utilize the high-capacity aircraft for sectors like Doha to Medina or Jeddah. Additionally, shorter routes under 1,000 miles include Karachi at 974 miles.

In summary, operating short-haul services with the Airbus A350 allows Qatar Airways to maintain high aircraft utilization while expanding connectivity across the Middle East.