Qatar Airways has quietly updated its northern-summer 2026 timetable, cancelling 131 flights between Doha and London for the April–June period. The move reduces weekly frequencies from 81 to 59 across Heathrow and Gatwick, with Gatwick losing half its services in the first week of May. Industry sources say the Gulf carrier is leasing the vacated slots to alliance partner British Airways, which will maintain overall Doha capacity by deploying larger Boeing 777-300ER aircraft.
The reshuffle comes amid soaring fuel prices and continued engine-maintenance constraints on Qatar’s Airbus A350 fleet. By trimming low-yield shoulder-season flights, the airline says it can protect profitability while preserving premium-cabin capacity. For corporate travel managers the immediate impact is a squeeze on seat availability during a period that includes several major trade fairs and Ramadan-adjusted schedules. Fare-tracking firm Skytra reports average business-class prices on the route have already risen 9 per cent week-on-week.
Travellers connecting onward to Asia-Pacific should expect narrower minimum-connection-time buffers in Doha as Qatar retimes remaining departures. Mobility teams are advised to reissue itineraries to avoid mis-connects and to monitor BA codeshares, which may not display the same baggage-through-check benefits.
![Qatar Airways cuts 131 spring flights from Heathrow and Gatwick, handing slots to British Airways]()
For travellers suddenly facing reroutes or unexpected stopovers, VisaHQ can take the pain out of securing any additional transit or entry documents. Its digital platform (https://www.visahq.com/united-kingdom/) lets UK passengers check requirements and process visas for the Gulf, Europe or Asia-Pacific in minutes, giving corporate mobility teams a quick fix when schedules shift.
Heathrow Airport, which has lobbied for slot-rule flexibility after Brexit, welcomed the “efficient reallocation” as an example of market self-correction. Consumer groups, however, argue that passengers booked on cancelled Qatar flights are entitled to rerouting or refunds under UK 261 compensation rules and must be proactively notified—something early reports suggest has not always happened.
If the cuts extend into the peak July-September period—as internal memos seen by travel-management companies suggest—UK exporters reliant on same-day connections to the Gulf Cooperation Council may need to consider alternative carriers such as Emirates or Saudia, adding transit-time and visa considerations for some nationalities.
The reshuffle comes amid soaring fuel prices and continued engine-maintenance constraints on Qatar’s Airbus A350 fleet. By trimming low-yield shoulder-season flights, the airline says it can protect profitability while preserving premium-cabin capacity. For corporate travel managers the immediate impact is a squeeze on seat availability during a period that includes several major trade fairs and Ramadan-adjusted schedules. Fare-tracking firm Skytra reports average business-class prices on the route have already risen 9 per cent week-on-week.
Travellers connecting onward to Asia-Pacific should expect narrower minimum-connection-time buffers in Doha as Qatar retimes remaining departures. Mobility teams are advised to reissue itineraries to avoid mis-connects and to monitor BA codeshares, which may not display the same baggage-through-check benefits.
For travellers suddenly facing reroutes or unexpected stopovers, VisaHQ can take the pain out of securing any additional transit or entry documents. Its digital platform (https://www.visahq.com/united-kingdom/) lets UK passengers check requirements and process visas for the Gulf, Europe or Asia-Pacific in minutes, giving corporate mobility teams a quick fix when schedules shift.
Heathrow Airport, which has lobbied for slot-rule flexibility after Brexit, welcomed the “efficient reallocation” as an example of market self-correction. Consumer groups, however, argue that passengers booked on cancelled Qatar flights are entitled to rerouting or refunds under UK 261 compensation rules and must be proactively notified—something early reports suggest has not always happened.
If the cuts extend into the peak July-September period—as internal memos seen by travel-management companies suggest—UK exporters reliant on same-day connections to the Gulf Cooperation Council may need to consider alternative carriers such as Emirates or Saudia, adding transit-time and visa considerations for some nationalities.
