UK flag carrier British Airways has expanded its joint network with Qatar Airways by placing the Qatari airline’s ‘QR’ designator code on five additional routes from London Heathrow Airport (LHR) to key European destinations. This means travellers can potentially expect even more Avios reward flight options.
Under the newly expanded agreement, British Airways will apply Qatar Airways’ ‘QR’ code to flights from London Heathrow to:
- Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER)
- Milan Malpensa Airport (MXP)
- Munich Airport (MUC)
- Paris Charles De Gaulle Airport (CDG)
- Rome Leonardo da Vinci Fiumicino Airport (FCO)
According to AeroRoutes and data from aviation analytics firm Cirium’s Diio Mi airline planning tool, these codeshare services started on March 30. Shortly after these codeshare routes began, Qatar Airways is scheduled to operate 102 weekly flights from Doha Hamad International Airport (DOH) to the five European cities. This includes:
- 18 weekly flights to both Berlin and Paris
- Three daily flights to Milan and Rome
- Double-daily departures to Munich
According to Qatar Airways’ Chief Commercial Officer, Thierry Antinori, the carrier plans to add a third daily flight to Berlin in the future and is eyeing more routes in Germany. However, regulatory questions following a political scandal may affect Qatar Airways’ growth ambitions in Germany or the broader European Union.
Despite potential hurdles, Cirium Diio Mi data shows the airline’s strong European presence, with 525 weekly flights departing Doha-Hamad to Europe this April. This represents nearly 28% of its total departures from its Doha hub. London remains the top European gateway for the Qatari carrier with a combined 70 weekly services to London Heathrow and Gatwick airports.
Partnership Expansion and Codeshare Details
As part of the broader collaboration, British Airways will codeshare with Qatar Airways on 42 European destinations from London Heathrow, as well as four non-European routes, including Bermuda (BDA), Barbados (BGI), Doha (DOH), and Nassau (NAS). Meanwhile, Qatar Airways places British Airways’ ‘BA’ code on 45 non-European routes out of Doha, connecting passengers to the Middle East, Africa, Asia, and Oceania.
In July 2023, British Airways announced that Iberia would join its partnership with Qatar Airways. Indeed, the Spanish carrier, which is also part of the British Airways Club (through IAG) and the oneworld alliance, launched its own Madrid (MAD) – Doha (DOH) flights in December 2023. This three-way partnership expands each airline’s global reach and provides travellers an easy way to book flights with Avios on numerous routes.
Avios Reward Flights and Ticket Prices
One benefit of this codeshare agreement for frequent flyers is more opportunities to lock in Avios reward flights, and European holidays, across an extensive route map. Travellers can combine these with additional perks from the British Airways Club loyalty programme, such as lounge access, priority boarding, or extra baggage allowances (subject to tier status). While actual Qatar Airways ticket price points may fluctuate, travellers can often reduce out-of-pocket costs by redeeming or upgrading with Avios.
Make sure to monitor the Qatar Airways ticket price for each route and decide whether to spend cash, Avios, or a blend of both. More codeshare routes mean there’s a better chance of finding availability and attractive redemption rates, especially on trans-European connections and beyond.
Final Thoughts
The two oneworld members continue to strengthen their joint global network by adding new flights. The resulting partnership gives travellers extra flexibility to book flights with Avios and potentially save on the Qatar Airways ticket price. With Iberia in the mix, the British Airways Club gains a deeper reach, which means flyers have a broader menu of long-haul and short-haul options to connect Europe, the Middle East, and beyond.
