Qatar Airways returns to London Gatwick

Qatar Airways will resume daily flights to London Gatwick on 20 August, expanding its UK network to include four airports.

The Doha-based airline will fly a daily route to the Sussex airport with a Boeing 787, bringing the weekly total of UK-Doha services it operates up to 45, across:

• Edinburgh (three weekly flights)
• Gatwick (daily flights)
• London Heathrow (three daily flights)
• Manchester (two daily flights)

In a statement released by the company, Qatar Airways Group chief executive Akbar Al Baker called his airline “the leading international carrier providing connectivity to the UK” at the current time, adding that the country “is a very important strategic market for Qatar Airways”.

“We are proud of our repatriation efforts to-date including never stopping services between the UK and Doha that have helped bring over 200,000 passengers home,” he said.

Gatwick chief executive Stewart Wingate also welcomed the move, saying, “We are delighted to welcome Qatar Airways back to Gatwick after what has been a challenging time for the whole industry.

“To be able to offer Gatwick passengers the opportunity to fly to Doha – a fantastic city in its own right and a gateway to destinations across Africa, Asia-Pacific, the Middle East, Australia and New Zealand – is another positive step in the recovery process.”