Breaking News: Japan Airlines and Qatar Airways Add Five New Routes from Doha to Ankara, Baku, Istanbul, Sabiha Gokcen, and Kuwait City

Published on October 1, 2025

By: Paramita Sarkar

Japan Airlines (JAL) has announced an exciting expansion of its codeshare partnership with Qatar Airways for the winter 2025/26 season. Beginning on October 26, 2025, JAL will add five new routes operated by Qatar Airways to its network, providing travelers with more seamless connections between Doha and key destinations across the Middle East and Europe. This move strengthens the long-standing relationship between the two airlines, enhancing connectivity and offering passengers more travel options.

What Are the New Codeshare Routes?

The newly added codeshare routes between Japan Airlines and Qatar Airways will span five major cities: Ankara, Baku, Istanbul, Sabiha Gokcen, and Kuwait City. These routes, all departing from Doha, will allow passengers greater flexibility and access to popular destinations across Europe and the Middle East. The details of the routes are as follows:

• Doha – Ankara
• Doha – Baku
• Doha – Istanbul
• Doha – Sabiha Gokcen
• Doha – Kuwait City

By incorporating these routes into the partnership, Japan Airlines is significantly enhancing its global reach and making travel more accessible for its passengers traveling to these destinations.

Where Will These New Routes Operate?

The new codeshare services will be available between Doha, Qatar, and five key destinations:

• Ankara, the capital of Turkey, known for its rich history and political significance.
• Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan, which is emerging as a popular hub for tourism and business in the Caspian region.
• Istanbul, one of the world’s most iconic cities, straddling the continents of Europe and Asia, blending modern culture with historic landmarks.
• Sabiha Gokcen, an international airport in Istanbul, offering access to one of the world’s busiest cities with a focus on budget-friendly travel.
• Kuwait City, the capital of Kuwait, a major business hub in the Arabian Peninsula, offering visitors a mix of modern architecture and traditional Arabian culture.

These destinations are known for their thriving economies and growing tourism sectors, making the new routes an essential addition to Japan Airlines’ expanding global network.

When Will the New Routes Begin?

The expanded codeshare agreement between Japan Airlines and Qatar Airways will officially commence on October 26, 2025. From that date onward, passengers will be able to book tickets on the newly added routes operated by Qatar Airways but marketed by Japan Airlines. This partnership is designed to offer enhanced convenience for travelers, making it easier to access these key cities with the added benefit of JAL’s renowned service.

Why Is This Partnership Important for Passengers?

For travelers, this expansion means greater flexibility, more connectivity, and seamless travel between Doha and five major cities across Europe and the Middle East. The codeshare agreement allows Japan Airlines to offer these destinations without having to operate the flights directly, leveraging Qatar Airways’ extensive network to provide convenient connections for their passengers.

This enhanced network aligns with the growing demand for international travel, particularly between Japan, the Middle East, and Europe. It also strengthens the relationship between Japan Airlines and Qatar Airways, both of which are members of the Oneworld Alliance, offering passengers access to a broader range of routes and benefits.

How Will the Codeshare Partnership Benefit Both Airlines?

For Qatar Airways, this partnership enables the airline to offer an even broader range of destinations to its passengers. By including JAL’s vast Asian network, Qatar Airways can provide enhanced options for travelers flying from Europe and the Middle East to Japan and beyond.

Meanwhile, Japan Airlines benefits by leveraging Qatar Airways’ strong presence in the Middle East and Europe. With increasing numbers of international tourists and business travelers between these regions, this partnership is expected to drive growth for both airlines, providing a competitive edge in an increasingly crowded global aviation market.

How Will This Expansion Affect Travel Patterns?

The addition of these five routes is likely to positively influence travel patterns by offering more direct flights and reducing the need for layovers, especially for those traveling to and from Japan. Business travelers, leisure tourists, and expatriates will find these new routes particularly valuable, allowing for easier access to key destinations in Turkey, Azerbaijan, and the Arabian Peninsula.

Additionally, this partnership is expected to bolster the tourism sector in both the Middle East and Europe. With convenient flights from Doha to destinations like Istanbul and Baku, visitors from Japan will be able to explore more cities on their travels, further supporting tourism growth across these regions.

Impact on the Aviation Industry

The codeshare expansion is a part of a broader trend in the airline industry, where partnerships and alliances are becoming increasingly important to provide passengers with more routes and greater access to destinations around the world. In an age where convenience and connectivity are crucial to the travel experience, airlines are increasingly turning to codeshare agreements as a way to expand their global networks without incurring the high operational costs of additional direct flights.

Easier, more convenient travel

As Japan Airlines enhances its codeshare partnership with Qatar Airways for the winter 2025/26 season, passengers can look forward to easier, more convenient travel between Doha and five exciting destinations: Ankara, Baku, Istanbul, Sabiha Gokcen, and Kuwait City. With flights set to begin on October 26, 2025, travelers will enjoy seamless connectivity, enhanced service, and access to a broader range of destinations, making their international travel experiences more convenient than ever before. Whether for business or leisure, these new routes are sure to make travel between Qatar, Europe, and the Middle East more accessible and enjoyable for all.