Qatar Airways vs Emirates

Overview

Qatar Airways (IATA QR, ICAO QTR) is the flag carrier of Qatar, headquartered in Doha. It is still operating: the group's FY2026 fleet, network and operational highlights were reported by CAPA. Its Wikipedia article covers the company history and ownership.

Network and hubs

The airline's operations are based in Doha. A full list of destinations is on Wikipedia. This profile does not yet state route or region figures because they could not be verified.

Fleet

A current fleet size could not be confirmed in time for this profile. Fleet details are on the Qatar Airways fleet page, and Aviation Business Middle East has reported a plan for 138 new aircraft. The group's private jet arm, Qatar Executive, is listed there with 27 aircraft.

On board

Cabin, seat, meal, entertainment and Wi-Fi details have not been verified for this profile. Please check the airline's official website.

Good to know

• Baggage allowances vary by fare and route. See the Qatar Airways baggage information page.
• Lounge, change-fee and loyalty programme details should be checked with the airline before booking.

Overview

Emirates is one of the two flag carriers of the United Arab Emirates, alongside Etihad. It was founded on 15 March 1985 and began flying on 25 October 1985. It is headquartered in Al Garhoud, Dubai, and is a subsidiary of The Emirates Group, which is owned by the government of Dubai through the Investment Corporation of Dubai. Emirates is not a member of a major alliance. Its frequent-flyer programme is Emirates Skywards.

Network and hubs

All operations are based at Terminal 3 of Dubai International Airport, which is the only hub. Wikipedia describes Emirates as the world's largest long-haul airline, serving more than 150 cities in about 80 countries across six continents. The infobox lists 148 destinations, so the exact figure varies by date.

Fleet

As of June 2026, Wikipedia lists 266 passenger aircraft and 24 cargo aircraft operated by Emirates SkyCargo. The passenger fleet is all wide-body and includes:

• 116 Airbus A380s (the world's largest operator)
• 127 Boeing 777s (117 777-300ERs and 10 777-200LRs)
• 23 Airbus A350-900s

Per Air Data News, 94 of the A380s were active at the time of that report. President Tim Clark said the active number should reach about 110 by the end of 2026, alongside a US$6 billion cabin retrofit programme.

On board

Emirates offers Economy, Business and, on selected aircraft, First and Premium Economy. Economy seat pitch is 31–32 inches on Airbus aircraft and 34 inches on Boeing aircraft. Premium Economy seats offer up to 40 inches of pitch and a 13.3-inch screen. Business class on the A380 has fully flat beds, and Business passengers can use the on-board bar at the rear. Entertainment is provided by the ICE system. Only some aircraft have Premium Economy so far: 24 A380s had it when the article was written, and a retrofit programme is extending it to older A380s and 777s. Check the aircraft type when booking.

Good to know

• Baggage allowances, change fees and meal details depend on fare and route. Check them on emirates.com before booking.
• Emirates Skywards is the loyalty programme.
• Lounge access depends on cabin and status. This profile does not list lounge details.
• No published on-time performance figure was found for this profile.