Qatar Airways restores 85 percent of its network

Qatar Airways has restored its network activities to 85% of pre-crisis levels while simultaneously creating two new leadership positions to optimize operations and enhance customer focus. These developments were announced as part of the introduction of the summer flight schedule for 2026, which includes more than 140 daily departures from Doha to over 160 destinations worldwide.

The Middle Eastern airline set a goal at the beginning of the year to restore 85% of its original network by mid-June, after a large portion of flights had to be suspended due to regional disruptions. With the achievement of this goal, the Qatar Airways Group is well positioned for the next phase of growth.

New leadership roles to support growth

The two newly created positions, Chief Operating Officer (COO) and Chief Customer Officer (CCO), are intended to support three key priorities that will shape the future development of the group. These priorities include „delivering a world-class passenger experience, expanding passenger and cargo offerings with a modern fleet, and investing in the development and promotion of employees.“

The Chief Operating Officer will consolidate the group’s operational functions under a unified leadership to ensure accountability, performance, and the highest safety standards. This position will be held by Abdulla Ali (photo), a Qatari who previously served as Senior Vice President for Ground Services. Ali brings extensive experience in airline, airport, and network operations and has proven himself as a leader in high-performing teams.

The Chief Customer Officer will bring together brand and customer touchpoints under a coordinated focus to ensure consistency and excellence throughout the customer journey. This role will be taken on by Calum Laming, who holds both Irish and British citizenship and previously served as Chief Customer Officer at British Airways. Laming has also worked in senior customer-focused positions at major international airlines such as Etihad Airways and Air New Zealand.

Hamad Al-Khater, Chief Executive Officer of the Qatar Airways Group, commented on the new appointments:

“These positions are critical for the next steps. With Abdulla and Calum on our leadership team, we will move faster, sharpen our focus on excellence, and place the customer at the center of every decision. They are also important for our employees as we expand our ability to develop talent and support the growth of our outstanding teams.”

Abdulla Ali and Calum Laming will assume their new roles on November 1, 2026.

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