Qatar Airways inaugurated its Doha–Bogotá–Caracas service on 4 November 2026, establishing twice-weekly flights to Colombia and Venezuela. The launch is accompanied by an expanded codeshare agreement with LATAM Airlines Colombia, allowing the Gulf carrier to market connections to 17 domestic destinations beyond Bogotá.
The new service operates every Wednesday and Sunday using Boeing 777-200LR aircraft, according to Qatar Airways’ official announcement on 4 November. The airline becomes the first Gulf carrier to serve Venezuela, while Bogotá and Caracas join its network as its 16th and 17th destinations in the Americas.
Beyond the addition of two cities, the launch establishes a new connection between northern South America and Qatar Airways’ Doha hub. Bogotá serves both as the first stop on the intercontinental route and as a gateway to LATAM’s Colombian domestic network, extending the airline’s commercial reach beyond the airports served by its own aircraft.
A Triangular Route Linking Doha, Bogotá and Caracas
The service follows a triangular operating pattern, departing Hamad International Airport in Doha for Bogotá’s El Dorado International Airport before continuing to Simón Bolívar International Airport in Caracas. The return sector operates nonstop from Caracas to Doha.
Under the published schedule, flight QR783 leaves Doha at 07:35 and reaches Bogotá at 16:25, local time. It continues from Bogotá at 17:55, arriving in Caracas at 21:00. The return flight departs the Venezuelan capital at 23:30 and arrives in Doha at 20:35 the following day.
Qatar Airways has scheduled two weekly rotations, on Wednesdays and Sundays. The airline identifies Australia, China, Japan, Lebanon, South Korea and the United Arab Emirates among the markets accessible through onward connections at its Doha hub.
The triangular arrangement gives both Bogotá and Caracas access to the carrier’s wider international network while serving the two South American capitals within a single operating pattern. The company has not disclosed route-specific passenger forecasts, expected load factors or revenue projections.
LATAM Codeshare Extends the Network Beyond Bogotá
The commercial dimension of the launch extends beyond the long-haul operation itself. Qatar Airways has expanded its existing partnership with LATAM to include LATAM Airlines Colombia, allowing the Qatari carrier to place its code on domestic services operated by its South American partner.
The arrangement covers 17 Colombian destinations: Armenia, Barranquilla, Bucaramanga, Cali, Cartagena, Cúcuta, Ibagué, Leticia, Medellín, Montería, Neiva, Pasto, Pereira, Riohacha, San Andrés Island, Santa Marta and Yopal.
The extension was also confirmed by the Qatar News Agency on 4 November.
For Qatar Airways, the agreement broadens the network it can market in Colombia without requiring the airline to operate additional domestic flights. LATAM remains the operating carrier on the corresponding internal routes, while Qatar Airways adds these services to its commercial offering.
This distinction matters for network development and airline distribution. A codeshare can extend an airline’s market presence beyond its directly operated destinations, although the number of cities covered does not, by itself, establish the volume of connecting passengers or the commercial performance of the arrangement.
Bogotá’s role is particularly relevant in the context of regional connectivity. As examined in LATITUDE15’s analysis of ACI-LAC international passenger flows, the Colombian capital is among the principal airports handling connecting traffic within Latin America and the Caribbean.
The Qatar Airways–LATAM arrangement therefore adds another international distribution option through Bogotá. Its actual contribution to traffic and passenger flows will depend on how the new service and the codeshare perform in operation.
From a 2025 Announcement to a November Launch
The inauguration follows a launch timetable that changed several times. Qatar Airways first announced the Bogotá and Caracas services on 22 January 2025, initially targeting an early-summer 2025 start.
In a subsequent announcement dated 11 May 2026, the airline confirmed 22 July 2026 as the planned commencement date. Aviation trade media later reported a revised launch scheduled for 2 September, followed by a further postponement to November. The airline’s official releases do not establish the reasons for those changes.
The service eventually began on 4 November, adding another intercontinental operator to Venezuela’s international aviation market. Its inauguration follows the broader return of international services examined in LATITUDE15’s earlier report on Venezuela’s airspace reopening and the operational considerations facing airlines.
With the route now inaugurated, Qatar Airways has moved from its original network announcement to scheduled operations linking Doha with both Colombian and Venezuelan markets. The accompanying LATAM codeshare gives the launch an additional commercial dimension, extending its distribution network across Colombia without changing the two weekly long-haul frequencies.
FAQ
When did Qatar Airways launch flights to Bogotá and Caracas?
Qatar Airways inaugurated the Doha–Bogotá–Caracas service on 4 November 2026. The route had previously been scheduled to begin in July 2026 before its launch was postponed.
Does Qatar Airways fly nonstop from Doha to Caracas?
No. The outbound journey from Doha stops in Bogotá before continuing to Caracas. The return flight operates nonstop from Caracas to Doha, following a triangular routing pattern.
Which Colombian destinations are included in the LATAM codeshare?
The expanded agreement covers 17 domestic destinations served by LATAM Airlines Colombia, including Medellín, Cali, Cartagena, Barranquilla, Bucaramanga, Santa Marta and San Andrés Island.
Which aircraft operates the Doha–Bogotá–Caracas route?
Qatar Airways operates the service with Boeing 777-200LR aircraft. Flights are scheduled twice weekly, on Wednesdays and Sundays, connecting Doha, Bogotá and Caracas.
