After being grounded since April due to the war in Iran, Qatar Airways’ Airbus A380s reentered commercial service on June 16. Despite this, the oneworld member has already changed the superjumbo’s network plans for later this year. It’ll no longer fly the type from Doha Hamad International Airport (DOH) to Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport (SYD) and Singapore Changi Airport (SIN).

These changes were revealed in the carrier’s schedule update to Cirium Diio over the weekend. This source has revealed many other changes to double-decker networks operated by fellow Gulf carriers. Among many other examples, Emirates has removed the A380 from that carrier’s Dubai to Beijing Capital route.

Qatar Airways Pulls The A380 From SYD

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In 2026, Qatar Airways deployed the A380 to SYD on a sub-daily basis until March. Until the latest update, the plan was for the type to once again operate from DOH to Australia’s busiest airport on September 16, with a daily operation. That plan has now changed. As of June 22, SYD is not scheduled to see Qatar Airways’ superjumbos again. This means the oneworld member will no longer use the type to Australia. Of course, this could easily change.

The 354-seat Boeing 777-300ER will replace the A380, which will mean nearly a third fewer seats per departure. As this configuration does not have first class, the route will not have the airline’s most premium offering. Indeed, it hasn’t since the superjumbo was removed from the route earlier this year.

On June 15, partner Virgin Australia reintroduced service from SYD to DOH, using Qatar Airways’ 354-seat 777-300ERs and crew. This setup is entirely based on increasing Qatar Airways’ access to the valuable Australian market. As the A380 is no longer scheduled, the pair will collectively have 19% fewer seats to/from DOH. This will help with loads and yields amid the uncertainties of connecting at Gulf hubs.

When all equipment is considered, the Gulf giant has served SYD for more than a decade, with the first flight taking place in March 2016. This materialized much later than those to Melbourne (December 2009) and Perth (July 2012). Qatar Airways has deployed the double-decker quadjet to SYD since September 2016. A daily service on the 517-seat equipment was available through 2020, with the type returning two years later until early 2026.

The A380 Has Also Been Removed From SIN

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Cirium and Flightradar24 information for 2026 shows that Qatar Airways briefly flew the 517-seat superjumbo from DOH to SIN on a handful of occasions in January and February. The most recent departure took place on February 28, shortly after the war commenced. Since then, the A350-900 and A350-1000 have been used instead.

Until the weekend’s schedule update, the carrier was due to deploy the A380 from DOH to SIN from September 16. A daily service was planned. The latest information shows that the 283-seat A350-900 and 327-seat A350-1000 (neither of which have first class) will continue to be used instead. When all passenger aircraft are considered, Qatar Airways plans 18 to 21 weekly services to SIN, down from 21 each week in the same period last year.

SIN’s Middle Eastern Double-Deckers

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In the last quarter of the year, only Emirates and Etihad Airways are now due to fly the superjumbo between the Middle East and SIN. Emirates will do so three times daily, with the four-class, 487-seat and 489-seat configurations deployed. The 777-300ER will be used on the carrier’s fourth daily service.

Meanwhile, Etihad’s 486-seat superjumbos are scheduled to return to SIN on October 25. The UAE carrier only started flying the type to Lion City in February 2025. Elsewhere, Singapore Airlines has removed all A380 services to Dubai. Benefiting from all this reduced capacity, British Airways will fly the type from London Heathrow to SIN in the upcoming winter.