Qatar Airways has announced a significant reduction in its flight frequency to San Francisco, cutting its service to five times a week for the summer of 2026. This change marks a departure from the previously planned daily flights and reflects a broader trend in the airline’s operations within the United States. The adjustment comes shortly after Air India also reduced its long-haul routes to the same city.
The decision to decrease flights to San Francisco makes it Qatar Airways’ least-served route in the United States. Following the introduction of this route in December 2020 during the pandemic, the airline maintained a nearly daily service. Starting from the end of March 2026, when airlines transition to their summer schedules in line with IATA guidelines, flights will only be available on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays, and Sundays.
Flight QR737 will depart Doha at 08:05 and arrive in San Francisco at 13:35 local time. The return flight, QR738, will leave San Francisco at 17:55 and land back in Doha at 19:25 the following day, maintaining a duration of approximately 15 hours and 30 minutes. The service will continue to utilize the Airbus A350-1000, which features a premium configuration with 46 QSuites and 281 economy seats.
Declining Demand and Competitive Landscape
Recent data from the US Department of Transportation indicates a decline in passenger numbers for Qatar Airways, with only 18,791 round-trip travelers recorded in July 2025. This represents a 3% decrease compared to the same month in 2024. Additionally, the airline’s overall US passenger volume fell by 5% during this period.
San Francisco’s seat load factor also experienced a drop, decreasing from a robust 96% to 93%. This reduction in performance likely influenced Qatar Airways’ decision to scale back its service, as the airline aims to increase load factors and potentially boost yields. Competing airlines like Emirates continue to offer daily flights to San Francisco, which puts additional pressure on Qatar Airways to maintain its market share.
In light of these challenges, the reduced frequency may allow Qatar Airways to manage capacity more effectively, enhancing overall route performance and potentially improving profitability.
Future Outlook for Qatar Airways’ US Operations
Looking ahead, Qatar Airways has plans for a daily service to San Francisco during the winter season of 2026/2027. The airline’s decision to reduce flights for the summer will be closely monitored, as it seeks to evaluate the impact of the new schedule. The upcoming peak summer month of July 2026 will see Qatar Airways offering a total of 103 weekly departing flights from Doha to the United States, which is a decrease from 105 in July 2025 and significantly down from 118 in July 2024.
The planned departures for July 2026 include 18 weekly flights to New York JFK, 14 weekly flights to Dallas/Fort Worth and Washington Dulles, and daily flights to several other major cities such as Chicago, Miami, and Los Angeles. The adjustment to San Francisco’s service frequency reflects a strategic response to changing market dynamics and passenger demand.
As Qatar Airways navigates these changes, its operational strategies will likely continue to evolve in response to the competitive landscape and the need for sustainable profitability.