British Airways is back in Doha, and Qatar Airways rolled out the welcome

British Airways is back in Doha. After months away, the airline's flights between London Heathrow and Hamad International Airport have restarted, and its oneworld partner Qatar Airways rolled out the welcome on social media.

"We welcome back our partner, @British_Airways, to Hamad International Airport in Doha, Qatar," Qatar Airways wrote on X on September 2, with a photo of the two airlines' tails side by side. The post drew more than 800 likes.

What the airport says

Hamad International Airport (HIA) marked the arrival too. In its own post, the airport said that "from 2 September, British Airways will operate direct flights between Doha and London."

HIA added that British Airways joins 36 other airline partners and Qatar Airways in linking Doha to more than 160 destinations around the world.

Why BA left

British Airways pulled out of Doha earlier this year as airspace in the region became unstable. In a March 16 update on its media center, the airline listed flights to and from Doha among those canceled.

That gap lasted through the spring and summer. For people living in Qatar, it meant one fewer nonstop choice to London.

The schedule

British Airways has not put out a press release on the return that we could find. The best detail comes from trade press.

According to Aviation Shop, which cites Simple Flying and OAG schedule data, BA returned to Doha on September 1 with one daily Boeing 777-200ER flight. Its last flight before that was in February. The same report says the route is due to go to twice daily from March 28, 2027, and that the timings are set up for connections. Schedules can still change, so check current times with British Airways before you book.

Aviation Shop also notes that British Airways still has several other Middle East routes from Heathrow suspended.

What it means for travelers

For oneworld flyers, this matters for a few reasons:

• More choice on Doha to London. Qatar Airways already flies the route. BA adds another nonstop option on the same trunk.
• Connections. Qatar is BA's oneworld and joint venture partner, so BA passengers in Doha can connect onto Qatar's network.
• Earning. Members of either program can usually earn on the other's flights. Check your own fare and program rules first.

Which lounge?

We have not seen BA or Qatar confirm which lounge British Airways passengers use in Doha, so we are not going to guess. If you are flying BA from Doha, check with the airline before you go.

Our directory covers all the main Hamad International lounges, including the Al Mourjan Business Lounge (South), The Garden, the Al Safwa First Lounge and the Platinum and Gold lounges for oneworld elites flying with Qatar.

The bigger picture

BA's return follows Qatar's own push to rebuild its network, which we covered in our look at Qatar's winter schedule.

It also comes as Qatar tries to win back its Doha-based frequent flyers, with a new Tier Restoration offer for members who lost status this year.

For more, see our Qatar Airways page.