Qatar Airways Makes a Powerful Return to Kigali with 4 Weekly Flight

Qatar Airways Makes a Powerful Return to Kigali with 4 Weekly Flight

It took them a few years (three, to be exact), but Qatar Airways has finally decided to stop ghosting Kigali. That’s right, as of June 25, 2025, the airline has officially hit “resume” on its direct flights between Doha and Rwanda’s capital. Some might say it’s a strategic move. We say: it’s a reunion long overdue.

So, get your passport ready, because your Rwandan adventure—or your great escape from the Qatari heat—is now just a smooth, no-layover flight away.

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Four Flights a Week and a Whole Lot of Potential

Let’s talk frequency: Qatar Airways is keeping it casual but consistent with four direct flights a week. You’ve got options on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays, which, if you do the math, equals just enough flexibility to plan an impulsive gorilla trekking trip without quitting your job or explaining too much to your family.

Here’s how it plays out:

• Flight QR1389 leaves Doha at 08:20 and lands in Kigali by 13:30. That’s enough time to make it to lunch, check into your hotel, and still snap a “look at me, I’m in Rwanda” photo before dinner.
• Flight QR1390 takes off from Kigali at 15:50, getting you back to Doha at 22:50. Just in time to beat jet lag and still question why you booked a morning meeting the next day.

A320: Small Jet, Big Comfort

Sure, it’s not one of those giant double-decker planes with an onboard bar and a shower, but don’t judge the Airbus A320 too quickly. This little beauty comes with 12 Business Class seats for the champagne-and-pajama set and 120 Economy seats for the rest of us who just want a good movie, a hot meal, and someone to call us “sir” or “madam” while handing us snacks.

Plus, it’s Qatar Airways—so even the Economy passengers get treated like royalty (albeit, like royalty with slightly less legroom).

Why Kigali? Why Now?

Because Rwanda is hot right now—and not just temperature-wise. Kigali is one of Africa’s most exciting, fast-growing capitals. It’s clean, green, safe, and full of surprises. One minute you’re sipping locally roasted coffee in a trendy café, the next you’re planning a trek to hang out with gorillas in the wild. You can’t do that in Doha. (We checked.)

And Qatar Airways is clearly taking notes. With 30 African cities now on its route map and over 170 flights a week to the continent, the airline is making it crystal clear: Africa is not just “on the list”—it’s the list.

The World Just Got Smaller (In a Good Way)

Here’s the real win: you’re no longer stuck stringing together three flights, two naps on airport chairs, and one soggy airport sandwich just to get from Kigali to, say, Bangkok or Barcelona. With Qatar Airways back in Kigali, the entire globe is now one layover away.

Thanks to Hamad International Airport—aka the world’s shiniest airport with more art installations than some museums—you can connect to almost anywhere. Want to stop off in Tokyo after spotting gorillas? Sure. Feel like swinging by London for a cheeky Nando’s on your way back from Rwanda? Absolutely.

Final Boarding Call: Kigali’s Calling

So whether you’re a Rwandan heading abroad, a Qatari looking for a change of scenery (and temperature), or just someone who appreciates a quality in-flight meal and a direct flight, Qatar Airways has your back.

You’ve got four weekly chances to trade Doha’s desert for Rwanda’s rolling hills—or vice versa. Just you, a stylish A320, and a whole lot less travel drama.

Time to book it. Kigali’s back on the map—and this time, it’s first class.