Qatar Airways Group has returned to 85% of its pre-crisis network capacity, the carrier said as it unveiled its summer 2026 schedule. The plan includes more than 140 daily departures from Doha serving in excess of 160 destinations worldwide, a milestone the airline reached this week.
The airline had previously set a mid-June target to restore a significant portion of its network amid a period of regional disruption that affected much of its operations. The announcement of the summer schedule marks the fulfilment of that target.
Alongside the capacity update, Qatar Airways introduced two new executive positions intended to strengthen operational delivery and customer-facing functions. The roles are framed around three strategic priorities: improving passenger experience across all customer touchpoints; expanding the passenger and cargo network while modernising the fleet and rolling out updated Qsuite cabins; and increasing investment in employee development and skills training.
Abdulla Ali, a Qatari national, moves into the role of Chief Operating Officer following his promotion from Senior Vice President of Ground Services. In the COO post, Ali will be responsible for the Group's operational activities, with oversight for accountability, performance and safety standards. His background includes work across airline, airport and network operations.
Calum Laming, who holds Irish and British nationality, was named Chief Customer Officer. Laming will lead the brand and customer service functions, with a remit to ensure consistency across the entire customer journey. He previously served as Chief Customer Officer at British Airways from 2022 until earlier this year and has held senior customer roles at Etihad Airways and Air New Zealand.
Both executives will report directly to Group Chief Executive Officer Hamad Al-Khater and are scheduled to commence their new duties on November 1, 2026. Commenting on the appointments, Al-Khater said: "These appointments are about what comes next. With Abdulla and Calum joining our leadership team, we will move faster, sharpen our focus on excellence, and put the customer at the heart of every decision we make."
The combination of restored capacity and senior leadership changes signals an operational reset for the carrier as it seeks to stabilise service levels and improve the end-to-end passenger experience. The emphasis on fleet modernisation, Qsuite updates and staff training reflects management priorities tied to network expansion and customer consistency across touchpoints.
While the airline has achieved the stated 85% restoration relative to its pre-crisis network, the company continues to point to areas of focus - notably sustaining operational performance, maintaining safety and implementing the planned enhancements to cabins and workforce skills.
Summary
Qatar Airways has restored 85% of its pre-crisis network, operating more than 140 daily departures to over 160 global destinations under its summer 2026 schedule. It also appointed Abdulla Ali as Chief Operating Officer and Calum Laming as Chief Customer Officer, both reporting to CEO Hamad Al-Khater and starting November 1, 2026. The new roles support improvements in passenger experience, network and fleet upgrades including updated Qsuite cabins, and greater investment in employee development.