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Last weekend's schedule update showed a notable change for Qatar Airways. The oneworld member will fly the Airbus A380 from Doha to Singapore for the first time. It will take off 11 months after Etihad Airways first deployed its double-deckers from Abu Dhabi to Lion City. According to ch-aviation, Qatar Airways has eight A380s. Unlike Emirates, which has them in multiple configurations, its Qatari competitor's frames are all in the same layout. They have 517 seats each: eight first-class suites (1-2-1; on the upper deck), 48 seats in business (1-2-1; upper deck), and 461 seats in economy (2-4-2 on the upper deck, and 3-3-3 down below; mainly 31" pitch). Qatar Airways' A380s To Singapore The airline's schedule submission to Cirium Diio indicates that the double-decker quadjet will take off for Singapore on January 12. It'll operate through January 25 and return on February 22. It will be flown until March 28, which is the last day of the northern summer, based on IATA slot seasons. It is likely to be extended beyond then, which will become clear in future schedule updates. When the superjumbo is used, it'll be flown daily. It'll be on QR948, which will leave the Gulf in the middle of the night. It'll be fed by a huge number of flight arrivals from across Europe and the Middle East. Back to Doha, it'll be on QR947, which will arrive home shortly before midnight and feed considerable quantities of services to Europe and the Middle East. The 517-seater will replace the A350-1000, with both the 327-seat and 395-seat configurations previously scheduled. The equipment swap means up to 58% more seats per flight. Analysis of schedule data for the past 20 years shows that Qatar Airways' first-class cabins will be available to Singapore for the first time. Qatar Airways Now Plans 5 A380 Routes Let's stick with the first 28 days of March. In that period, the airline plans to fly the double-decker from Doha to Bangkok (24 weekly; three to four daily), London Heathrow (daily), Paris CDG (daily), Singapore (daily), and Sydney (daily). In total, 208 departures will be available, equivalent to seven to eight daily services. It is unknown if any changes to these places are coming. Compared to the same period in 2025, A380 takeoffs have grown from 152 (five to six daily) to 208 (seven to eight daily). Some 37% more services have been added in a year. Due to relatively short stage lengths for long-haul flights, it is unlikely that Qatar Airways will reintroduce the two A380s that remain stored, but time will tell. The airline has been contacted for comment. The growth is partly because the type will be deployed to Singapore. However, it is mainly because the equipment's use to Bangkok has grown dramatically, from just a daily service to 24 weekly. Aircraft have been freed up by Heathrow's superjumbo flights, which have been reduced by half. This is because, when all equipment is considered, Qatar Airways and partner British Airways plan a record London-Doha operation. Singapore Will Have 5 A380 Operators Again Emirates, Etihad, Qantas, Qatar Airways, and Singapore Airlines will all fly the double-decker from Changi. This many users were last available in May 2025, when British Airways deployed the type there. In the first 28 days of next March, Singapore will have as many A380 airlines as Sydney. They'll be outdone by Los Angeles and London Heathrow, both of which have six carriers each.
