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