DOHA— Qatar Airways (QR) has cut over 12,000 flights planned for April and May 2026, suspending service to more than 60 destinations amid ongoing regional disruptions. The Gulf carrier has grounded all eight of its operationally active Airbus A380s during this period.
The double-decker superjumbos are currently parked at Hamad International Airport (DOH) in Doha, with the latest schedule data pointing to a commercial return on June 1, 2026, subject to change. Refund offers reportedly extending through July suggest the airline may be preparing for a longer disruption.
Qatar Airways Suspends A380 Operations
Qatar Airways operates ten Airbus A380s in total, of which eight are typically in active service. Two aircraft, including A7-APA, have remained in storage since 2020 and are not expected to return to service, Simple Flying reported.
The remaining eight frames had been flying commercially until March 2026 before being progressively recalled to Doha.
The table below reflects where each of the eight active A380s last operated and their current location, as tracked by Flightradar24 on April 6, 2026:
| Registration | Last Departure | Current Location |
|---|---|---|
| A7-APC | April 1 | Doha (ex-Teruel storage) |
| A7-APD | March 28 | Doha (ex-London Heathrow/LHR) |
| A7-APE | March 25 | Doha (ex-Bangkok Suvarnabhumi/BKK storage) |
| A7-APF | March 23 | Doha (ex-London Heathrow/LHR) |
| A7-APG | March 28 | Doha (ex-Rayong storage) |
| A7-APH | March 24 | Doha (ex-Bangkok Suvarnabhumi/BKK) |
| A7-API | March 20 | Doha (ex-London Heathrow/LHR) |
| A7-APJ | March 28 | Doha (ex-Paris CDG/CDG storage) |
Having all eight frames consolidated at DOH is operationally advantageous, as it simplifies maintenance coordination and allows for a faster redeployment once services resume.
A380 Return Planned for June 1
According to the latest Cirium schedule data, Qatar Airways plans to resume A380 operations on June 1, 2026, with five departures from Doha (DOH) scheduled on that date. The planned departures are as follows:
- 1:10 AM to London Heathrow (LHR)
- 2:30 AM to Bangkok Suvarnabhumi (BKK)
- 2:35 AM to Singapore Changi (SIN)
- 8:45 AM to Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG)
- 8:05 PM to Sydney Kingsford Smith (SYD)
All five routes are planned to operate daily through the remainder of 2026. Bangkok (BKK) will see the highest frequency, with up to 10 weekly A380 flights planned, though this is set to reduce to daily from November onward.
Winter Schedule Shows Higher A380 Activity, Still Below 2025 Levels
Cirium data indicates that Qatar Airways (QR) plans 305 A380 departures from Doha (DOH) in November and December 2026 combined.
While this marks a ramp-up from the summer schedule, it still represents a 22% decline compared to the same two months in 2025, when Bangkok (BKK) alone saw three to four daily A380 departures.
The carrier’s 517-seat, first-class-equipped A380s are configured to serve high-demand, long-haul leisure and business markets. A recovery in Bangkok frequency during winter 2026 remains the most likely path to closing that gap.
Global A380 Activity Falls 7% in One Week
Beyond Qatar Airways (QR), the broader A380 market has also contracted. Across all operators, scheduled two-way A380 flights in April and May 2026 total 12,449, a 7% week-over-week decline.
Emirates (EK) accounts for a large share of that drop, with its A380 services falling 14% compared to the prior week. Etihad Airways (EY) recorded a smaller week-over-week decline of 2%, though its April–May 2026 schedule is still 16% below the same period in 2025.
Singapore Airlines (SQ) is the only non-Gulf carrier to reduce A380 services in this period, cutting 6% week-over-week after removing the type from its Dubai (DXB) route. The redeployment plan for those freed aircraft has not yet been confirmed.
Stay tuned with us. Further, follow us on social media for the latest updates.
Join us on Telegram Group for the Latest Aviation Updates. Subsequently, follow us on Google News
