Doha–Hail on Airbus A320: Qatar Airways Begins Nonstop Flights, Expands Saudi Arabia Network

Qatar Airways (QR), the Doha-based global airline that a couple of months ago launched flights to Red Sea, has successfully inaugurated its first direct flights to Hail International Airport (HAS), Hail, marking a significant expansion of its Saudi network. The inaugural arrival took place on 5 January 2026, with the carrier introducing a triweekly, non-stop service linking Hamad International Airport (DOH), Doha with Hail. This marks Qatar Airways’ 13th destination in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Qatar Airways at a glance

Aircraft Painting: Why are Aircraft Painted White and (Exceptions) 

Flight Schedule and Service Details

Qatar Airways, which is the busiest Middle East airlines by flight hours in 2025, will operate three weekly non-stop flights between Doha and Hail, using its standard narrowbody or regional widebody aircraft deployed on short-haul Gulf services. The present flight schedule is as follows:

• Flight QR1228: DOH → HAS – Departs 14:20; Arrives 16:30 (Mon, Thu, Sat)

• Flight QR1229: HAS → DOH – Departs 17:30; Arrives 19:25 (Mon, Thu, Sat)

This schedule is calibrated to facilitate efficient connections for onward travel through Qatar Airways’ global network of more than 170 destinations via its Doha hub. Privilege Club members can accumulate and redeem Avios for flights, airport services, and lifestyle rewards under the airline’s frequent-flyer program.

According to data from flightroutes.com, Qatar will deploy the Airbus A320 on this route. According to data from planespotters.net, Qatar operates 27 aircraft of this type, and these have an average age of 13.5 years.

Details of the Aircraft that Qatar will Deploy on the Doha-Hail Route

The following table lets us know that Qatar has configured its 27 Airbus A320s in two different ways, and that the oldest of this aircraft type is more than 16 years old.

Registration	Configuration	Delivered	Age
A7-AHA	C12Y132	Dec 2009	16.2 Years
A7-AHB	C12Y132	Dec 2009	16.1 Years
A7-AHC	C12Y132	Feb 2010	16 Years
A7-AHD	C12Y132	Sep 2010	15.3 Years
A7-AHE	C12Y132	Nov 2010	15.2 Years
A7-AHG	C12Y132	Mar 2011	14.8 Years
A7-AHH	C12Y132	May 2011	14.7 Years
A7-AHI	C12Y132	Jul 2011	14.6 Years
A7-AHJ	C12Y132	Aug 2011	14.5 Years
A7-AHL	C12Y132	Aug 2011	14.4 Years
A7-AHO	C12Y120	Sep 2011	14.5 Years
A7-AHP	C12Y120	Oct 2011	14.3 Years
A7-AHQ	C12Y120	Dec 2011	14.1 Years
A7-AHR	C12Y120	Jan 2012	14.1 Years
A7-AHS	C12Y120	Feb 2012	13.9 Years
A7-AHT	C12Y120	Apr 2012	13.8 Years
A7-AHU	C12Y120	May 2012	13.7 Years
A7-AHW	C12Y120	Jul 2012	13.5 Years
A7-AHX	C12Y120	Nov 2012	13.2 Years
A7-AHY	C12Y120	Dec 2012	13.1 Years
A7-LAB	C12Y132	Apr 2015	10.9 Years
A7-LAC	C12Y153	Apr 2015	10.9 Years
A7-LAD	C12Y153	Apr 2015	10.8 Years
A7-LAE	C12Y156	Jun 2015	10.6 Years
A7-LAF	C12Y156	Jul 2015	10.6 Years
A7-LAG	C12Y156	Sep 2015	10.4 Years

Qatar Airways A320 that has 132 seats in total has Business Class that is configured with twelve Collins Aerospace Parallel Diamond seats arranged in paired rows, offering a balanced blend of density and personal space. Each seat converts into a fully flat bed and is equipped with a 60-inch pitch and a 21-inch width.

Passenger comfort is enhanced through:

• Six-way adjustable headrests
• Four-way adjustable lumbar support
• A discreet eye-level storage compartment behind the headrest for small personal items.

Each seat is fitted with a 15.4-inch high-definition touchscreen display, alongside universal AC and USB-A power outlets. Seats in the first-row benefit from wider footwells, although window seats in positions A and F do not offer direct aisle access.

Economy Class features 120 seats arranged in a standard 3-3 layout, with each seat incorporating a four-way adjustable headrest to improve ergonomic support. The standard row pitch measures 31.5 inches, increasing to 35 inches at exit rows 11 and 12, providing additional legroom for selected passengers.

Seats in Economy Class are:

• 17.7 inches wide
• equipped with an 8.9-inch high-definition touchscreen display for in-flight entertainment
• Universal AC and USB-A power sockets are available at each seat.

Here’s how the carrier configures its A320 type that has 144 seats in total:

Feature	Business Class	Economy Class
Seat model	Recaro CL4400	Recaro BL3530
Number of seats	12	132
Configuration	Seats arranged in pairs	Slimline seats
Row pitch	45 inches	31.5 inches (standard) 35 inches (exit rows 14–15)
Seat width	21 inches	17.7 inches
Seat recline	10 inches	—
In-flight entertainment	10-inch HD touchscreen display	8.9-inch HD touchscreen display
Power options	Universal AC + USB-A	Universal AC + USB-A

Significance of Hail in Qatar Airways’ Network Expansion

Hail International Airport is located in north-central Saudi Arabia, a region experiencing accelerating development in both tourism and cultural heritage sectors.

The province is renowned for its rich history, distinctive desert terrain and UNESCO-recognized rock art sites that trace human activity spanning thousands of years. These distinctive features position Hail as an emerging destination for cultural and nature tourism.

From a network planning perspective, this route extension consolidates Qatar Airways’ footprint in one of the most dynamic and fast-growing aviation markets in the Middle East. The airline already operates more than 150 weekly flights across Saudi Arabia, servicing major cities such as:

• Jeddah (JED)
• Riyadh (RUH)
• Dammam (DMM)
• Medina (MED)

and other key locales.

Comparative History of Inaugural Route Expansions

Below is a comparative overview of Qatar Airways’ recent inaugural flight introductions, relaunches, or frequency expansions: