History of Qatar Airways in Timeline

Qatar Airways, the flag carrier of Qatar, was founded in 1993 and is fully state-owned since 2013. Headquartered in Doha, it operates a hub-and-spoke network with 170 international routes from Hamad International Airport using a fleet of over 200 aircraft. Employing over 43,000 people, Qatar Airways joined the Oneworld alliance in 2013. The company's slogan is "Going Places Together", adopted in 2015. The airline has faced criticism regarding employee treatment and allegations of bribery.

1974: Joint-owner member of Gulf Air

From 1974 Qatar became a joint-owner member of Gulf Air.

November 22, 1993: Qatar Airways Established

On November 22, 1993, Qatar Airways was established by the government of Qatar.

1993: Qatar Airways Established

Qatar Airways was established by the government of Qatar in 1993.

January 20, 1994: Operations Began

On January 20, 1994, Qatar Airways began its operations.

May 1994: First Destination: Amman

In May 1994, Amman became Qatar Airways' first destination.

April 1995: Staff and Fleet Expansion

By April 1995, Qatar Airways CEO Sheikh Hamad Bin Ali Bin Jabor Al Thani had a staff of 75, and the fleet consisted of two Airbus A310s.

November 1996: Akbar Al Baker became CEO of Qatar Airways

From November 1996 to November 2023, Akbar Al Baker served as the CEO of Qatar Airways.

1996: Acquisition of Boeing 747SP

In 1996, Qatar Airways acquired a second-hand Boeing 747SP from Air Mauritius.

1996: Services Discontinued

In late 1996, Qatar Airways discontinued services to Athens, Istanbul, Madras, and Tunis.

September 1997: Muscat Route Removed

In September 1997, Muscat was removed from Qatar Airways' route network.

July 1998: Order for Airbus A320s

In July 1998, Qatar Airways placed a firm order with Airbus for six Airbus A320s.

February 1999: Delivery of First A320

In February 1999, Qatar Airways took delivery of the first A320 powered by Aero Engines V2500 on lease from SALE.

April 1999: Lease Deal with SALE

In April 1999, the lease of four Airbus A320s from Singapore Aircraft Leasing Enterprise (SALE) was scheduled.

April 2000: Fourth A300-600R Joins Fleet

In April 2000, a fourth A300-600R on lease from AWAS joined the Qatar Airways fleet.

October 2000: Order for Airbus A319CJ

In October 2000, Qatar Airways ordered an International Aero Engines V2500-powered Airbus A319CJ.

2001: Order for Airbus A380

In 2001, Qatar Airways became the ninth customer for the Airbus A380 when two aircraft of the type were ordered.

2001: Airbus order

In 2001, Qatar Airways slated the delivery of six Airbus A320s between 2001 and 2005

May 2002: Withdrawal from Gulf Air

In May 2002, Qatar became the first country to withdraw from Gulf Air.

June 2003: Resumption of Services to Iraq & Cargo Aircraft

In June 2003, Qatar Airways resumed international services to Iraq with the Doha–Basra route, and incorporated its first dedicated cargo aircraft, an Airbus A300-600R, into the fleet.

March 2004: First Profit Ever

The Qatar Airways Group reported its first profit ever for the fiscal year that ended in March 2004.

July 2004: 53rd Destination Worldwide

In July 2004, Zürich became Qatar Airways' 53rd destination worldwide.

2004: Fleet Introduction

In 2004, the first Airbus A321s and Airbus A330s were scheduled to enter the fleet.

March 2005: New Service to Osaka

A new service to Osaka was launched in March 2005.

2005: Airbus order

In 2001, Qatar Airways slated the delivery of six Airbus A320s between 2001 and 2005

September 8, 2006: First A340 Delivered

Qatar Airways' first A340 was delivered on September 8, 2006.

2006: Qatar Airways unveiled its branding

In 2006, Qatar Airways unveiled its current branding, featuring an oryx as its logo and a burgundy wordmark on a light grey background.

2006: A340-600 Delivery

The Airbus A340-600 was slated for delivery to Qatar Airways in 2006.

May 2007: MoU for Airbus A350 XWBs

In May 2007, Qatar Airways and Airbus signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for the acquisition of 80 Airbus A350 XWBs.

November 2007: Firm Order for Boeing 787s

In November 2007, a firm order for 30 Boeing 787-8s, plus options for 35 more aircraft of the –9 or –10 variant, was confirmed by Qatar Airways.

November 2008: New York-JFK Service Commenced

A new scheduled service to New York-JFK commenced in November 2008, replacing the Newark route.

February 2009: First Boeing 777-200LRs Delivered

In February 2009, the first two Boeing 777-200LRs were handed over to Qatar Airways by the aircraft manufacturer.

June 2009: Cargo flights to Cairo International Airport launched

In June 2009, Qatar Airways Cargo launched dedicated cargo flights to Cairo International Airport, complementing the existing passenger services.

October 12, 2009: First Commercial Flight Powered by Natural Gas

On October 12, 2009, Qatar Airways completed the world's first commercial passenger flight powered by a fuel made from natural gas.

2009: CEO Akbar Al Baker stated lowering age of fleet

In 2009, CEO Akbar Al Baker stated the removal from service was to lower the age of its fleet as well as its ineffectiveness compared to the Boeing 777.

April 2010: Service to Tokyo-Narita

In April 2010, Qatar Airways first served Tokyo-Narita.

May 14, 2010: Boeing 777F Delivered

On May 14, 2010, the Boeing 777F was delivered to the airline.

May 18, 2010: First Boeing 777F into Service

On May 18, 2010, Qatar Airways put its first Boeing 777F (A7-BFA) into service, with a flight from Doha to Amsterdam.

August 18, 2010: Launched first US-dedicated cargo service

On August 18, 2010, Qatar Airways launched its first US-dedicated cargo service from Doha to Chicago–O'Hare with a stop-over in Amsterdam, Netherlands using Boeing 777 freighter aircraft.

September 2011: 100th Boeing Aircraft

In September 2011, Qatar Airways received its 100th aircraft from Boeing with the handover of a Boeing 777-200LR.

2011: Launch of Benghazi and Entebbe

During 2011, Qatar Airways launched services to Benghazi and Entebbe.

January 2012: Qatar Airways Opens First Lounge Outside Doha

In January 2012, Qatar Airways opened its first lounge outside Doha at London Heathrow's Terminal 4.

February 1, 2012: Service to Baku and Tbilisi Delayed

Service to Baku and Tbilisi, originally planned for 2011, was delayed until February 1, 2012, due to operational issues.

July 2012: Service to Perth

In July 2012, Perth became the second city served in Australia by Qatar Airways.

October 8, 2012: Announcement to Join Oneworld

On October 8, 2012, Qatar Airways announced it would join Oneworld within the forthcoming 18 months.

November 12, 2012: Acquisition of the Dreamliner

On November 12, 2012, Qatar Airways became the seventh carrier worldwide to acquire the Dreamliner, and the first delivered to a Middle Eastern airline.

2012: Fourteen more destinations were added to the network

In 2012, fourteen more destinations were added to the Qatar Airways network: Addis Ababa, Baghdad, Belgrade, Erbil, Gassim, Kigali, Kilimanjaro, Maputo, Mombasa, Perth, Saint Petersburg, Warsaw, Yangon, and Zagreb.

February 2013: European Customer Service Centre Opened

In February 2013, Qatar Airways opened its European Customer Service centre in Wrocław, Poland.

March 13, 2013: First of three A330F was delivered

On March 13, 2013, Qatar Airways Cargo's first of three A330F was delivered, provided on lease from BOC aviation, replacing A300-600F.

June 2013: Fully State-Owned

Following the assumption of power by emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani in June 2013, Qatar Airways became fully state-owned.

June 2013: Order for Boeing 777-300ER Aircraft

In June 2013, Qatar Airways firmed up an order for two Boeing 777-300ER aircraft plus seven options.

July 2013: Government fully controlled Qatar Airways

In July 2013, Qatar Airways became fully controlled by the government following the buyout of a 50% stake from former prime minister Hamad bin Jassin Al Thani and other shareholders.

September 2013: Services to Ethiopia

Services to Ethiopia began in September 2013.

October 2013: Joins Oneworld Alliance

In October 2013, Qatar Airways became a member of the Oneworld alliance.

October 29, 2013: Joining Ceremony of Oneworld

The joining ceremony of Qatar Airways into the Oneworld alliance took place on October 29, 2013.

November 17, 2013: Purchase of Boeing 777-9Xs

On November 17, 2013, Qatar Airways purchased 50 Boeing 777-9Xs.

2013: A350 XWB delivery slated

In 2007, Qatar Airways and Airbus signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for the acquisition of 80 Airbus A350 XWBs, with the first aircraft initially slated for delivery in 2013.

January 17, 2014: Agreement with Qatar Airways to operate flights for IAG Cargo

On January 17, 2014, Global Supply Systems terminated its contract with British Airways World Cargo, and an agreement with Qatar Airways to operate flights for IAG Cargo using Boeing 777F was announced on the same day.

May 2014: All-Business Class Flight & Flights to Edinburgh Launched

In May 2014, Qatar Airways launched an all-business class flight to London-Heathrow with Airbus A319LR aircraft, and flights to Edinburgh were also launched.

May 27, 2014: Official transfer of operations to Hamad International Airport

On May 27, 2014, Qatar Airways' operations officially transferred to its new hub, Hamad International Airport, replacing Doha International Airport.

June 2014: Airbus A380 Delivery Expected

Qatar Airways expected to take delivery of its first three Airbus A380 aircraft in June 2014.

August 1, 2014: Delay of A380 Services to London

The start of A380 services to London was shifted to August 1, 2014 due to delivery delays.

September 2014: Planned launch of Al Maha Airways

Al Maha Airways was planned to launch in September 2014 to serve the Saudi Arabian market, using a similar livery to Qatar Airways.

September 16, 2014: First Airbus A380 Delivered

Delivery of the first Airbus A380 aircraft to Qatar Airways finally took place on September 16, 2014.

October 2014: A380 Services to London Commenced

In October 2014, A380 services to London commenced.

December 2014: Served 146 points worldwide

As of December 2014, Qatar Airways served 146 points worldwide following the launch of flights to Asmara and other destinations.

December 22, 2014: First Airbus A350-900 Handed Over

On December 22, 2014, the first Airbus A350-900 was handed over to Qatar Airways, making them the launch customer for the A350 XWB.

2014: Firming of Boeing 777-9X Order

During the 2014 Farnborough Air Show, the commitment for 50 Boeing 777-9Xs was firmed up.

2014: Report on Treatment of Qatar Airways Employees Published

In 2014, the Swedish newspaper Expressen published a report regarding the alleged 'monitored' and 'controlled' lives of three Qatar Airways employees, which the CEO of Qatar Airways denied.

January 15, 2015: First Revenue Flight of A350-900

On January 15, 2015, the first revenue flight of the Airbus A350-900 took place from Qatar Airways to Frankfurt.

January 2015: Order for Boeing 777Fs Concluded

In January 2015, Qatar Airways concluded an order for four Boeing 777Fs.

March 18, 2015: Announcement of new Boeing 777 Freighter service to Los Angeles

On March 18, 2015, Qatar Airways Cargo announced that starting April 4, 2015, it will launch a twice-weekly Boeing 777 Freighter service to Los Angeles, becoming Qatar Airways Cargo's fourth US freighter destination.

April 4, 2015: Launch of Boeing 777 Freighter service to Los Angeles

On April 4, 2015, Qatar Airways Cargo launched a twice-weekly Boeing 777 Freighter service to Los Angeles, becoming Qatar Airways Cargo's fourth US freighter destination.

May 2015: Al Maha Airways had taken delivery of 4 Airbus A320 aircraft

By May 2015, Al Maha Airways had already taken delivery of 4 Airbus A320 aircraft in preparation for its launch.

June 2015: Order for Boeing 777-8Xs and 777Fs Disclosed

In June 2015, it was disclosed that Qatar Airways had ordered ten Boeing 777-8Xs and four additional Boeing 777Fs.

June 2015: Served Amsterdam

Starting June 2015, Qatar Airways served Amsterdam.

August 2015: Policy Relaxation for Cabin Crew

In August 2015, Qatar Airways relaxed its policy of sacking cabin crew for getting pregnant or marrying in their first five years of employment.

December 2015: Serve Durban

Starting December 2015, it was announced that Qatar Airways would serve Durban.

2015: Qatar Airways Opens Al Safwa First Lounge

In 2015, Qatar Airways opened the Al Safwa First Lounge for its first-class passengers.

2015: Qatar Airways purchased 9.99% of the International Airlines Group

In 2015, the Qatar Airways purchased 9.99% of the International Airlines Group.

2015: Company Slogan

Since 2015, the official company slogan for Qatar Airways has been "Going Places Together".

January 2016: Carrier received first Boeing 747 nose loader

In January 2016, Qatar Airways received its first Boeing 747 nose loader.

April 2016: Qatar Airways Opens Premium Lounge at Dubai-International

In April 2016, Qatar Airways opened its new Premium Lounge at Dubai-International's Concourse D.

July 2016: U.S. Department of State held talks with Qatar government officials

In July 2016, the U.S. Department of State held talks with Qatar government officials regarding allegations of unfair competition. No formal action was taken.

December 27, 2016: Qatar Airways Cargo announced freighter operations to new destinations

On December 27, 2016, Qatar Airways Cargo announced that it will launch freighter operations to four new destinations in the Americas starting February 2, 2017, with Boeing 777 freighters flying twice a week.

2016: Non-stop service from Adelaide being launched

In 2016, Qatar Airways began another route to Australia, with a non-stop service from Adelaide being launched.

January 2017: Qatar Airways Opens Premium Lounge at Charles de Gaulle Airport

In January 2017, Qatar Airways opened its new premium lounge within Terminal 1 at Charles de Gaulle Airport, marking the airline's third international lounge.

February 2, 2017: Launch of freighter operations to new destinations

On February 2, 2017, Qatar Airways Cargo launched freighter operations to four new destinations in the Americas, with Boeing 777 freighters flying twice a week to Buenos Aires, São Paulo, Quito and Miami.

February 5, 2017: Longest regularly scheduled flight

As of February 5, 2017, Qatar Airways operated the longest regularly scheduled commercial flight, between Doha and Auckland.

February 2017: Al Maha Airways project was cancelled

In February 2017, Qatar Airways announced that the Al Maha Airways project had been cancelled due to ongoing issues gaining its operational license and the Qatar diplomatic crisis.

March 2017: Qatar Airways Reveals New Business Class Cabin 'Qsuite'

In March 2017, Qatar Airways introduced the 'Qsuite,' a new business class cabin with suites featuring doors arranged in a 1-2-1 configuration, launched on new Boeing 777-300ER and A350 XWB aircraft.

June 2017: Flights prevented from entering Emirati, Saudi Arabian, Bahrain and Egyptian airports

In June 2017, all Qatar Airways flights were prevented from entering Emirati, Saudi Arabian, Bahrain and Egyptian airports due to the 2017 diplomatic crisis.

September 1, 2017: Qatar Airways buys 49% of AQA Holding

On September 1, 2017, Qatar Airways acquired 49% of AQA Holding, the new shareholder of Meridiana.

November 2018: Airline to expand flights to Iran

In November 2018, Qatar Airways announced it would expand its flights to Iran, landing at Tehran and Shiraz, as of January 2019, and to Isfahan in February.

December 2018: CEO threatens to pull out of Oneworld alliance

In December 2018, the CEO of Qatar Airways, Akbar Al Baker, threatened to pull the company out of the Oneworld alliance in February, following accusations that alliance members Qantas and American Airlines engaged in "hostile business practices" against his carrier.

January 2019: Expansion of flights to Iran

As of January 2019, Qatar Airways expanded its flights to Iran, landing at Tehran and Shiraz, following an announcement in November 2018.

April 30, 2019: Qatar Airways retired its last Airbus A340-600

On April 30, 2019, Qatar Airways retired its last Airbus A340-600 from service after around 16 years of service. The last flight was QR835 from Bangkok Suvarnabhumi International Airport to Hamad International Airport.

June 18, 2019: Launched first flight from Doha to Davao, Philippines

On June 18, 2019, Qatar Airways launched its first flight from Doha to Davao, Philippines.

August 2019: Introduced flights to Langkawi

In August 2019, Qatar Airways introduced flights to Langkawi as part of its expansion plans in Southeast Asia.

December 2019: Purchased stake in Rwanda's Bugesera International Airport

In December 2019, Qatar Airways purchased a 60% stake in Rwanda's new $1.3 billion international airport, Bugesera International Airport.

December 24, 2019: Marc Bennett Found Hanged in Hotel Room

On December 24, 2019, Marc Bennett, a British travel industry executive, was found hanged in his hotel room in Doha after being arrested and held in custody for three weeks following his resignation from Qatar Airways.

February 2020: Held 25.1% of the shares of International Airlines Group

As of February 2020, Qatar Airways held 25.1% of the shares of International Airlines Group.

February 2020: Acquired stake in RwandAir

In February 2020, Qatar Airways acquired a 49% stake in Rwanda's flag carrier airline RwandAir.

February 2020: Largest shareholder in International Airlines Group (IAG)

Qatar Airways is as of February 2020 the largest shareholder in International Airlines Group (IAG) with 25.1% of the shares.

September 2020: Flights suspended to Birmingham Airport and Cardiff Airport

In September 2020, Qatar Airways suspended flights to both Birmingham Airport and Cardiff Airport due to low demand because of COVID-19 travel restrictions.

October 2, 2020: Australian Passengers Subjected to Invasive Search in Doha

On October 2, 2020, thirteen Australian female passengers aboard a Qatar Airways flight were forced to deplane in Doha and subjected to invasive internal examinations, sparking a diplomatic incident between Australia and Qatar.

2020: Boeing 777-9X Deliveries Expected

Deliveries of the Boeing 777-9X passenger aircraft are expected to start in 2020.

2020: Qatar Expresses Disapproval and Apologizes for Incident

In 2020, Qatari officials expressed strong disapproval and issued an apology soon after the Doha airport incident occurred.

January 2021: Embargo lifted

In January 2021, the embargo was lifted and Qatar Airways was again able to fly to countries such as Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Egypt and Bahrain and use their respective airspace.

January 2021: Flights allowed to enter Emirati, Saudi Arabian, Bahrain and Egyptian airports

In January 2021, the embargo was lifted and Qatar Airways was again able to fly to countries such as Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Egypt and Bahrain and use their respective airspace.

January 25, 2021: Network Spreads Across 120 Destinations

As of January 25, 2021, Qatar Airways' network spreads across 120 destinations after the settlement of Qatar's airspace dispute with neighbouring Gulf countries.

March 2021: Carrier Plans to Expand

By March 2021, the Carrier plans to expand its network to reach 130 routes.

March 28, 2021: Scheduled to restart flights to Birmingham Airport and Cardiff Airport

Flights to Birmingham Airport and Cardiff Airport were scheduled to restart on March 28, 2021, however the flight to Birmingham was only restarted on the July 6, 2023, and the flight to Cardiff never restarted.

July 24, 2021: Qatar Airways Resumes Service to Cebu

On July 24, 2021, Qatar Airways resumed service to Cebu, Philippines, after an eight-year hiatus, marking Cebu as the airline's third destination in the country.

September 29, 2022: The Times Publishes Article About Marc Bennett's Death

On September 29, 2022, The Times published an article about the death of British travel industry executive Marc Bennett in Qatar, detailing his arrest and alleged mistreatment after resigning from Qatar Airways in 2019.

October 2022: Legal Proceedings Begin Against Qatar Airways

In October 2022, the Australian women affected by the Doha airport incident began legal proceedings in Australia against Qatar Airways and the Qatar Civil Aviation Authority.

December 2022: European Parliament Suspends Qatar's Access

In December 2022, the European Parliament suspended Qatar's access following allegations of bribery to influence decisions, leading to arrests and Lufthansa calling for the suspension of the EU-Qatar air transport agreement.

2022: Report on Qatar Airways Crew Working Conditions

In 2022, a Thomson Reuters Foundation report revealed that Qatar Airways crew are frequently exposed to dangerous working conditions, suffering from burnout and fatigue due to overwork and being underpaid.

March 2023: Qatar Airways Group employed more than 48,000 people

At March 2023, the Qatar Airways Group employed more than 48,000 people, of whom 32,000 worked directly for the airline.

July 6, 2023: Restarted flight to Birmingham

On July 6, 2023, the flight to Birmingham was restarted, the flights to Cardiff Airport never restarted.

July 2023: Australian Government Rejects Qatar Airways Capacity Request

In July 2023, the Australian Government rejected Qatar Airways' request to double capacity into Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, and Perth, citing the 2020 incident as a factor.

July 2023: Australian Government blocked Qatar Airways expansion plan

In July 2023, the Government of Australia blocked an expansion plan from Qatar Airways that would have seen the carrier double its flights to Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth and Sydney.

September 2023: Qatar Airways Re-introduces Doha to Auckland Route

In September 2023, Qatar Airways reintroduced its Doha to Auckland route, offering 7 weekly flights using the Airbus A350-1000 aircraft, which is known as the third longest non-stop direct flight in the world.

September 2023: Qatar Airways VP Asserts 2020 Incident Was Isolated

In September 2023, Qatar Airways' senior vice president of global sales, Matt Raos, asserted that the 2020 incident was a 'one-off and an isolated incident' during an Australian Senate inquiry.

October 2023: Collaboration with Starlink

In October 2023, Qatar Airways announced a collaboration with Starlink to provide high-speed in-flight internet.

November 5, 2023: Akbar Al Baker stepped down

On November 5, 2023, Akbar Al Baker stepped down as the CEO of Qatar Airways.

November 2023: Badr Mohammed Al-Meer is the Qatar Airways' CEO

As of November 2023, Badr Mohammed Al-Meer is the Qatar Airways' CEO. Al-Meer succeeded Akbar Al Baker.

March 2024: Qatar Airways announced Sama 2.0

In March 2024, Qatar Airways announced Sama 2.0, an "AI cabin crew."

April 2024: Federal Court Dismisses Case Against Qatar Airways

In April 2024, the Federal Court of Australia dismissed the case against Qatar Airways related to the Doha airport incident, finding that the searches did not happen onboard a Qatar Airways aircraft nor were carried out by the airline's employees.

August 2024: Shareholding in Airlink acquired

In August 2024 a 25% shareholding in Airlink was acquired by Qatar Airways.

November 2024: EPPO Initiates Criminal Investigation into Henrik Hololei

In November 2024, the European Public Prosecutor's Office (EPPO) initiated a criminal investigation into Henrik Hololei, a former EU transport chief, over allegations that he accepted free flights from Qatar Airways.

2024: Qatar Airways Purchases Stake in Virgin Australia

In 2024, Qatar Airways purchased a 25% stake in Virgin Australia, bypassing the need for government approval of increased bilateral air rights and upping its competition against Qantas over the Australian market.

2024: Official Airline Partner and Official Cargo Airline Partner of MotoGP

In 2024, Qatar Airways was announced as the Official Airline Partner and Official Cargo Airline Partner of MotoGP, offering passenger and cargo services for MotoGP.

January 7, 2025: Qatar Airways Resumes Flights to Damascus

On January 7, 2025, Qatar Airways resumed three weekly flights to Damascus after a 13-year absence, following the easing of tensions in Syria.

February 2025: Qatar Airways acquired a 25% stake in Virgin Australia Holdings

In February 2025, Qatar Airways acquired a 25% stake in Virgin Australia Holdings.

February 2025: Australian Government approved sale of Virgin Australia Holdings

In February 2025, the Australian Government approved the sale of 25% of Virgin Australia Holdings, allowing Virgin to start flights to Doha from Perth, Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne. Qatar Airways 777-300ER aircraft will operate the flights.

March 2025: Qatar Airways Expands Services for Summer Travel Surge

In March 2025, Qatar Airways announced it would increase flights to 11 global destinations to meet the anticipated summer travel surge, including operating eight daily flights to London Heathrow starting October 27.

March 2025: Commission Initiates Full Disciplinary Proceedings Against Hololei

In March 2025, the European Commission decided to move from pre-disciplinary to full disciplinary proceedings against Henrik Hololei, following an investigation into allegations of accepting free flights from Qatar Airways.

July 2025: Qatar Airways Resumes Operations to Malta

In July 2025, Qatar Airways announced the resumption of operations to Malta, servicing the route with its Airbus A320 aircraft.

November 2025: Announced new global sports-related initiatives

In November 2025, Qatar Airways announced new global sports-related initiatives, including the launch of the “Qatar Airways United” youth development programme in partnership with former footballer Rio Ferdinand and a female-empowerment programme in collaboration with the BWT Alpine Formula One Team.

2025: Court Reverses Decision, Case Proceeds Against Qatar Airways

In 2025, the full bench of the Federal Court of Australia reversed the April 2024 decision, allowing the case related to the Doha airport incident to proceed against Qatar Airways and Matar.

January 2026: Hololei Fired from European Commission

In January 2026, Henrik Hololei was fired from the European Commission after an investigation concluded he breached the institution's rules regarding conflicts of interest related to accepting gifts from Qatar Airways.

February 2026: Hololei Fired, Unions Petition to Reassess EU-Qatar Agreement

In February 2026, following Henrik Hololei's firing, airlines, pilots, and aviation worker unions petitioned the European Union to suspend and reassess the EU-Qatar air transport agreement, citing concerns about compromised negotiations.