Qatar Airways launches Doha–Bogotá–Caracas route after two delays
Qatar Airways began its twice-weekly service to Bogotá and Caracas on November 4, 2026, becoming the first Gulf carrier to serve Venezuela. The airline also says it is the first carrier to operate nonstop flights from the Middle East to both cities.
Omar Al Nuaimi
Launch follows earthquake-related postponements
Flight QR783 departed Doha's Hamad International Airport at 8:16 a.m. local time on the inaugural journey, according to Aviacionline. Qatar Airways used a Boeing 777-200LR registered A7-BBB for the flight.
The service had originally been scheduled to start on July 22, 2026. After June earthquakes damaged infrastructure at Caracas's Simón Bolívar International Airport in Maiquetía, the launch was moved to September 2. In August, the airline closed sales until November, postponing the debut a second time.
Maiquetía partially reopened on September 1, 2026. Business Traveller reported that temporary passenger facilities set up in a parking lot allowed flights to resume after the earthquake damage.
Schedule, aircraft and ticket restrictions
The Boeing 777-200LR service operates on Wednesdays and Sundays. Under the published QR783 schedule, departure from Doha is at 7:35 a.m., with arrival in Bogotá at 4:25 p.m. The aircraft leaves Bogotá at 5:55 p.m. and reaches Caracas at 9 p.m., before departing Caracas at 11:30 p.m. for an 8:35 p.m. arrival in Doha.
The routing reflects a takeoff constraint in Bogotá. El Dorado Airport's elevation of more than 8,300 feet limits aircraft performance and prevents a nonstop departure for Doha, according to Business Traveller. Flying the shorter leg to Caracas allows Qatar Airways to leave Colombia with less fuel, then refuel near sea level for the long return flight.
Passengers cannot buy a ticket solely for the Bogotá–Caracas segment. Although the aircraft stops in both capitals, Qatar Airways cannot sell the service as a local point-to-point connection between Colombia and Venezuela.
Business Traveller reported that the aircraft serving the route has 42 Qsuite business-class seats and 230 economy seats. Starlink Wi-Fi was also available on board.
Connections through Doha and across Colombia
Bogotá and Caracas bring Qatar Airways' Americas network to 17 destinations, becoming its 16th and 17th stops in the region. The airline's South American operations began in 2010 with service to São Paulo, Brazil.
Qatar Airways says the new flights offer connections through Hamad International Airport to its network of more than 170 destinations. Markets served through the Doha hub include the UAE, Australia, China, Japan, Lebanon and South Korea.
Connections beyond Bogotá are covered by an expanded partnership with LATAM Airlines Colombia. The carriers signed a codeshare agreement on September 29, 2026, effective in November, allowing Qatar Airways to place its code on LATAM-operated flights to 17 domestic destinations.
Those destinations are Armenia, Barranquilla, Bucaramanga, Cali, Cartagena, Cúcuta, Ibagué, Leticia, Medellín, Montería, Neiva, Pereira, Pasto, Riohacha, San Andrés, Santa Marta and Yopal. LATAM also places its code on Qatar Airways' new Doha–Bogotá–Caracas service. The arrangement is intended to give international passengers access to more destinations within Colombia.
Competing routes and planned Caracas returns
Aviacionline identifies Turkish Airlines as the closest competitor, with nonstop flights from Istanbul to both Bogotá and Caracas, a service it resumed on October 1, 2026. Emirates has operated to Bogotá via Miami since June 2024 using Boeing 777-300ER aircraft.
Other airlines have restored or announced Caracas services. American Airlines resumed Miami–Caracas flights in April 2026. LATAM plans to begin nonstop Santiago–Caracas flights on January 3, 2027, while United plans to return from Houston on January 12, 2027.
ITA Airways is selling three weekly Rome–Caracas flights starting March 30, 2027. Aeromexico's expected return in the first quarter of 2027 remains subject to approvals.
