Qatar Airways has secured more traffic rights to Canada. It is believed that rights for an additional seven weekly flights have been approved. If used, the oneworld member could increase frequencies on one or both of its existing routes to Canada or serve an additional city or do both things. The increased allowance materialized as part of a new, broad agreement between Canada and Qatar.

In many parts of the world, bilateral air service agreements still govern market access. They dictate multiple things, including how many flights airlines from both countries can operate and, in some cases, where carriers can fly within a particular country. Canada is renowned for its strict approach, particularly to Middle Eastern operators, although it has loosened agreements in recent years.

Qatar Airways To Vancouver?

Credit: GCMap

Qatar Airways has served Canada since 2011. For the first 13 years, Cirium Diio data shows that it only flew to Montreal, with Toronto flights beginning in December 2024. Unsurprisingly, this followed a loosening of rights between the two nations.

It is believed that a total of 21 weekly services have now been agreed. Does this mean that Qatar Airways will add Vancouver to its global network? When writing, nothing had been announced or disclosed publicly. But it’d be a logical addition, at least theoretically.

The appeal might be heightened because British Columbia lost flights to the Middle East in May 2025, when Air Canada ceased Vancouver-Dubai; the route existed in partnership with Emirates. (Turkish Airlines serves Vancouver, but its Istanbul Airport hub is on the European side of the Bosphorus.) However, there’s a reasonable chance that Emirates itself will start flying to British Columbia, although nothing has been announced.

Speaking anonymously, a source told me that Vancouver flights would be a sure-fire way of Qatar Airways losing a considerable amount of money. Of course, the degree to which the carrier revolves around commercial realities is uncertain, as various existing North American routes lose a lot of money. It’d be easy to say that their network contribution or spreading the ‘Qatar’ brand are important factors, but that’s unclear. And if Emirates begins flying to British Columbia, Qatar Airways’ challenge would increase further.

Will Qatar Airways Begin Vancouver Or Increase Flights To Toronto?

Credit: Shutterstock

Assuming that the airline does indeed increase its overall Canadian offering, various options are available, each with differing degrees of sense and likelihood. For example, it could fly daily to Vancouver, which is probably the riskiest opportunity. This is probably unlikely, especially given that even its flights to San Francisco—a much larger market—are reducing to five weekly departures.

Secondly, it could double its Toronto offering, from the current daily flight to twice daily. Given the enormous size of the Toronto market, this is probably one of the more logical choices. The case is heightened given market access to some other airlines is relatively limited, which would help to increase Qatar Airways’ competitiveness.

For example, Emirates serves Toronto daily on the A380, while Etihad Airways runs daily from Abu Dhabi on the same equipment. Turkish Airlines remains sub-daily to Canada’s most populous city, influenced by its plan to grow flights being rejected. Due to this, it is now using Air Transat to partly plug the gap; the carrier just started Toronto-Istanbul flights. Air Canada has a daily Toronto-Dubai service, which effectively operates on behalf of Emirates.

Thirdly, it could add four more weekly flights to Toronto and begin a three weekly service to Vancouver, or vice versa, or some other combination of frequency, which could help to kill two birds with one stone. Fourth, and least likely, it could increase Montreal’s frequency from the current five weekly service to daily, while launching a brand-new Vancouver service.

Related

Superjumbo Surge: Emirates Doubles A380 Flights To Europe’s 5th Busiest Airport

A surprising twist for the world’s largest passenger aircraft at a major European hub.

Qatar Airways In Canada

Credit: Shutterstock

According to booking data for the 12 months to November 2025, more than 230,000 Toronto/Montreal passengers connected to another flight in Doha. Montreal’s top five country markets were India, Lebanon (despite the backtracking), Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and Thailand. The top five airport pairs were Montreal-Beirut, Bangkok, Jeddah, Colombo, and Dubai.

Unsurprisingly, India was overwhelmingly Qatar Airways’ top nation from Toronto. Pakistan was second, followed by Iran, Saudi Arabia, and Sri Lanka. The leading segment was Toronto-Delhi, then Tehran, Colombo, Amritsar, and Islamabad. When all airlines are combined, Toronto-Delhi is staggeringly large, with over 650,000 passengers in the examined period.