Qatar Airways to be 1st Gulf Airline to fly to Venezuela
May 12, 2026
Qatar Airways will start flights from Doha to Caracas in Venezuela and Bogota in Colombia from July 2026.
The route launch is a revitalisation of plans originally rolled out in 2025, but which never materialised. The new flights will operate twice-weekly to each destination and mark the first time that the cities have been served by direct flights from the Gulf region.
Qatar Airways announces new Caracas and Bogotá flights
Qatar Airways has revitalised its plans to operate flights from Doha to Caracas in Venezuela and Bogotá, Colombia. In an announcement on 11 May, the Gulf carrier said that twice-weekly flights would commence on 22 July, serving both South American cities on Wednesdays and Sundays.
Bogotá will be served nonstop from Doha, while Caracas will be an onward connection, with the return flight to Doha nonstop.
The route launch is a major expansion for the airline. Qatar Airways will become the first Gulf carrier to serve Venezuela, and the first airline to operate flights from the Middle East to Caracas and Bogotá.
Originally, Qatar revealed plans to fly to these destinations in January 2025, with plans to launch it by the summer using Boeing 777-200LRs.
However, these flights never materialised, possibly due to political tensions in the region.
As with all Qatar Airways flights, the connection is not just about arriving in Doha. The airline says the schedule is designed to provide “smooth onward connections through Doha’s Hamad International Airport (DOH) to key markets including Australia, China, Japan, Lebanon, South Korea, and the United Arab Emirates.”
Qatar’s global expansion focuses on South America
Caracas and Bogotá will be the 15th and 16th destinations in the Americas served by Qatar Airways, bringing the total number of destinations served by the airline to 160 for this summer.
The airline already offers flights to both cities via connections with Oneworld partner airlines at Miami and Madrid; however, this will be the first time that these destinations will have enjoyed direct service from any airport in the Gulf region.
| Flight | Route | Departure | Arrival | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| QR783 | Doha (DOH) → Bogotá (BOG) | 07:30 | 16:05 | Same-day arrival |
| QR783 | Bogotá (BOG) → Caracas (CCS) | 17:35 | 20:40 | Continuing service to Caracas |
| QR784 | Caracas (CCS) → Doha (DOH) | 22:30 | 19:55 (following day) | Return service to Doha |
The flights are already on sale, although the airline has not confirmed the aircraft that will operate the route. However, a photo of the 777-200LR contained in the press release and the previous plan to use the triple seven suggest this is the likely equipment.
The carrier operates its Boeing 777-200LRs in a two-class configuration featuring 42 seats in business class and 230 in economy class (272 in total). The route to Caracas from Doha is 8,261 miles (13,793 km) – well within the capabilities of the type, which has a maximum range of 9,845 miles (15,752 km).
Political stability in Venezuela prompts airline returns
With the addition of Qatar Airways to the list of overseas airline services serving Caracas Airport in Venezuela, the South American country is finally reestablishing itself on the world aviation stage.
Having closed its airspace and threatened overseas carriers with outright bans in late 2025, the country is now welcoming foreign carriers back to increase inbound tourism and boost the national economy.
Venezuela’s new government is currently under the control of the interim President Delcy Rodríguez. She became acting president in January after former president Nicolás Maduro was captured during a US operation to expedite regime change in the country.
Since taking office, Rodríguez has been keen to welcome back overseas carriers, while welcoming newcomers to commence previously unserved routes to Venezuela.
American Airlines’ regional subsidiary Envoy Air has already started daily Embraer 175 aircraft flights between Miami and Caracas, having begun services on 30 April and ending a seven-year hiatus of direct US-Venezuelan flights. The airline is planning to introduce a second daily flight between the two cities toward the end of May.
As a further vote of confidence in the country, the securing of direct flights between the Gulf region and Venezuela will come as a welcome boost. According to Qatar Airways, the expansion “underscores the airline’s commitment to South America, strengthening global connectivity for the region.”
Featured image: Colin Cooke Photo / Wikimedia Commons
