Qatar Airways Becomes Sole Year-Round Middle East Carrier to Málaga

Qatar Airways will continue operating year-round flights to Málaga-Costa del Sol Airport (AGP), Spain. It will be the only airline from the Middle East to offer this schedule.

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Since its launch in 2019 and return in 2021, the route has grown from two weekly flights to daily flights, although only during the summer season. In a new step forward, Qatar Airways will now maintain Doha (DOH) – Málaga year-round with three weekly flights using Boeing 787-8 aircraft configured for 254 passengers. This information was observed in the company’s reservation system.

During the summer season, Qatar Airways will increase it’s offering to five weekly flights in June and September, and seven weekly flights in July and August, thus providing 100,000 seats annually.

According to Aena Estadísticas, between March and October 2024, the airline carried 57,573 passengers in Málaga.

Middle Eastern airlines booming in Málaga

Following the COVID-19 health crisis, Málaga has attracted a wide variety of Middle Eastern airlines, becoming their third-largest market in Spain after Madrid (MAD) and Barcelona (BCN). Each summer season, five major Gulf airlines have launched operations at Málaga-Costa del Sol Airport, showcasing the market’s significant potential.

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Qatar Airways will remain, for now, the only airline maintaining year-round flights. Etihad Airways, operating from Abu Dhabi, ranks as the second most important and is set to increase its operations from three to five weekly flights with Boeing 787-9 aircraft by 2025. Following that, Kuwait Airways offers three weekly flights, deploying its impressive Boeing 777-300 (ER). Gulf Air, based in Bahrain (BAH), and SAUDIA, based in Jeddah (JED), operate with Boeing 787-9 aircraft, offering three and four weekly flights, respectively. Together, they complete the roster of Middle Eastern airlines serving Málaga.

Lastly, Emirates remains notably absent. Operating from Dubai, it is one of the leading Middle Eastern airlines in Spain, even deploying Airbus A380s in Barcelona and Madrid. However, the company’s pending orders for Boeing 787-8 and -10 aircraft, which have a lower seating density compared to the A380, Boeing 777, and A350, may eventually allow it to serve Málaga.