Qatar Airways is still flying to the UK from much of the world if you need to get someone home

Whilst virtually all airlines are grounding their flights – including the other two big Middle Eastern airlines, Emirates and Etihad – Qatar Airways is ploughing on.

Qatar Airways is still operating flights on 70+ routes.  It is, at the moment, leading global efforts to get people home.  It is even adding back services that had been cancelled, such as flights from Edinburgh.  Paris and Dublin are seeing extra services added, whilst some London Heathrow flights have been upgraded to an A380.

EDIT:  I have added in Brisbane, which was announced this afternoon.  This is the first time that Qatar Airways has flown from Brisbane.

During the past week, flights TO the UK, France and Germany have been 80% full.  Loads are obviously lighter in the opposite direction, with aircraft leaving the UK, France and Germany just 36% full.

If you’re lucky, you may even be able to get someone home on an Avios redemption.

The full list of airports where Qatar Airways is still flying is here.

As of Thursday lunchtime, Qatar Airways was still running flights to and from:

• London Heathrow
• Manchester
• Birmingham
• Ediburgh

…. to the following destinations, via a change of aircraft in Doha:

Africa

• Cape Town International Airport (CPT)
• Johannesburg OR Tambo International Airport (JNB)
• Seychelles International Airport (SEZ)
• Zanzibar Abeid Amani Karume International Airport (ZNZ)

Americas

• Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL)
• Boston Logan International Airport (BOS)
• Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD)
• Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW)
• John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK)
• Los Angeles International (LAX)
• Miami International Airport (MIA)
• Montreal Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport (YUL)
• São Paulo Guarulhos International Airport (GRU)
• Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD)

Asia and Pacific

• Angeles City Clark International Airport (CRK)
• Auckland  International Airport (AKL)
• Brisbane Airport (BNE)
• Colombo Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB)
• Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK)
• Canberra Airport (CBR)
• Chiang Mai International Airport (CNX)
• Denpasar International Airport (DPS)
• Hanoi Noi Bai International Airport (HAN)
• Hong Kong International Airport (HKG)
• Islamabad International Airport (ISB)
• Jakarta Soekarno-Hatta International Airport (CGK)
• Krabi International Airport (KBV)
• Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KUL)
• Male International Airport (MLE)
• Manila Ninoy Aquino International Airport (MNL)
• Melbourne Tullamarine Airport (MEL)
• Perth Airport (PER)
• Phnom Penh International Airport (PNH)
• Phuket International Airport (HKT)
• Seoul Incheon International Airport (ICN)
• Singapore Changi Airport (SIN)
• Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport (SYD)
• Tan Son Nhat International Airport (SGN)
• Tokyo Narita International Airport (NRT)
• Yangon International Airport (RGN)

There are another 26 European airports outside the UK which are also still accepting Qatar Airways flights.

For clarity, just because Qatar Airways is still flying to a destination does not mean that you will be allowed entry.  The majority of countries have now blocked entry to non-residents and non-citizens, or are insisting on a quarantine period on arrival.  You cannot even enter Doha, so you must remain in the airport during your stopover.

If you do try to book a flight for someone, do not book a one-way.  It is likely to be hugely expensive as one-way international flights often are.  Check the cost of booking a return flight, even if you do not intend to fly the second leg.

You can see the current list of operating destinations on this page of the Qatar Airways website.

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How to earn Avios from UK credit cards (April 2025)

As a reminder, there are various ways of earning Avios points from UK credit cards.  Many cards also have generous sign-up bonuses!

In February 2022, Barclaycard launched two exciting new Barclaycard Avios Mastercard cards with a bonus of up to 25,000 Avios. You can apply here.

You qualify for the bonus on these cards even if you have a British Airways American Express card:

Barclaycard Avios Plus Mastercard

Get 25,000 Avios for signing up and an upgrade voucher at £10,000 Read our full review

Barclaycard Avios Mastercard

Get 5,000 Avios for signing up and an upgrade voucher at £20,000 Read our full review

There are two official British Airways American Express cards with attractive sign-up bonuses:

British Airways American Express Premium Plus

30,000 Avios and the famous annual 2-4-1 voucher Read our full review

British Airways American Express

5,000 Avios for signing up and an Economy 2-4-1 voucher for spending £15,000 Read our full review

You can also get generous sign-up bonuses by applying for American Express cards which earn Membership Rewards points. These points convert at 1:1 into Avios.

SPECIAL OFFER: Until 27th May 2025, the sign-up bonus on the ‘free for a year’ American Express Preferred Rewards Gold card is increased from 20,000 Membership Rewards points to 30,000 points. Points convert 1:1 into Avios (30,000 Avios!) and many other programmes. Some people may see even higher personalised offers. Click here to apply.

SPECIAL OFFER: Until 27th May 2025, the sign-up bonus on American Express Platinum is increased from 50,000 Membership Rewards points to a huge 80,000 points. Points convert 1:1 into Avios (80,000 Avios!) and many other programmes. Some people may see even higher personalised offers. Click here to apply.

American Express Preferred Rewards Gold

Your best beginner’s card – 30,000 points, FREE for a year & four airport lounge passes Read our full review

The Platinum Card from American Express

80,000 bonus points and great travel benefits – for a large fee Read our full review

Run your own business?

We recommend Capital on Tap for limited companies. You earn 1 Avios per £1 which is impressive for a Visa card, and the standard card is FREE. Capital on Tap cards also have no FX fees.

Capital on Tap Visa

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Capital on Tap Pro Visa

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There is also a British Airways American Express card for small businesses:

British Airways American Express Accelerating Business

30,000 Avios sign-up bonus – plus annual bonuses of up to 30,000 Avios Read our full review

There are also generous bonuses on the two American Express Business cards, with the points converting at 1:1 into Avios. These cards are open to sole traders as well as limited companies.

American Express Business Platinum

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American Express Business Gold

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Click here to read our detailed summary of all UK credit cards which earn Avios. This includes both personal and small business cards.