Good news: Qatar Airways has just reopened cabin crew recruitment, with Assessment Days currently planned in eight global cities. Hopefully this is part of a much bigger recruitment campaign in the near future.
Why Did Qatar Airways Stop Recruiting?
If you missed it, we covered the story in detail here: Qatar Airways Suspends Cabin Crew Recruitment Despite Rebuilding Schedule From Iran War Disruption.
The short version: Earlier this year, escalating conflict in the Middle East led Qatar Airways to quietly pause cabin crew hiring altogether. Essentially, the airline had to massively shrink its network and schedule and didn’t need nearly as many cabin crew as before the Iran War broke out.
There were no Open Days, and no way to even register an interest.
Even as Qatar Airways moved to quickly rebuild its schedule as a ceasefire took effect, recruitment stayed closed until the airline worked out exactly how many cabin crew it would need in the months ahead.
Insight: Network recovery and hiring recovery aren’t on the same clock. An airline can be flying to nearly all of its destinations again while still being cautious enough behind the scenes that recruitment stays frozen.
Where Is Qatar Airways Recruiting?
Eight new cabin crew recruitment listings went live on Qatar Airways’ own careers site on 14th August 2026:
- Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
- Tokyo, Japan
- Jakarta, Indonesia
- Paris, France
- Tunis, Tunisia
- Bogota, Colombia
- Dhaka, Bangladesh
- Seoul, South Korea
Applications must be submitted by 27th August 2026. Shortlisted candidates will then receive an invitation for the Assessment Day in the city that they applied for. Qatar Airways is likely only to visit each of these cities for a single Assessment Day each. If you can’t attend the date that the airline has set, then you will miss out on this opportunity.
If Emirates or Etihad are also on your list, they never stopped recruiting through this period — see our Emirates Cabin Crew Recruitment Guide and Etihad Airways Cabin Crew Recruitment Guide for where things stand there.
How Can I Apply?
There’s no walk-in Open Day to simply turn up to for this latest round of recruitment. Applications must be submitted through the official Qatar Airways careers site first.
You submit your CV and application form online for the listing nearest you, and the airline reviews applications digitally. Shortlisted candidates are then invited by email to an in-person assessment day locally, so it’s worth applying promptly given the 27 August closing date.
Full step-by-step: Qatar Airways Cabin Crew Open Day / Assessment Day: What Really Happens
What’s the Package?
Qatar Airways pay has three components — basic salary, flying pay, and layover allowances. What you actually take home each month is a combination of all three, so earnings vary month to month depending on how many hours you fly and where your layovers are. All figures below are tax-free under Qatari law, though if you’re a UK, Australian, or other tax-resident national, check your home country’s rules on declaring overseas income before assuming the full figure is yours to keep.
- Basic monthly salary: ~QAR 3,800 for new joiners, rising to ~QAR 4,000–4,200 after the six-month probation period. This part is fixed, regardless of flying hours.
- Flying pay: ~QAR 39 per block hour (gate-to-gate), on an average of around 65 hours a month — though this varies by roster, with long-haul routes generating more than regional turns.
- Layover allowance: A daily per diem for nights spent away from Doha, varying by destination cost of living (Paris or London pays more than Bangkok or Colombo). Not paid on same-day turnarounds.
- All-in monthly estimate, year one: ~QAR 9,500–11,000 on a typical mixed roster, pushing toward ~QAR 13,000 for long-haul-heavy rosters with frequent high-allowance layovers. Senior crew and pursers can earn upward of ~QAR 18,000/month.
Benefits:
- Accommodation: Furnished, shared accommodation in Doha, utilities included, airport transport provided. Crew don’t pay rent.
- Staff travel: Heavily discounted and standby travel on Qatar Airways, extending to oneworld partners including British Airways, American Airlines, Cathay Pacific, and Finnair. Standby means allocated after paying passengers, not confirmed boarding.
- Annual leave ticket: One free return ticket home per year.
- Medical insurance: Comprehensive cover for the duration of employment.
- Uniform: Provided — Qatar Airways’ burgundy uniform is one of the most recognised in the industry.
- Training: Paid, based in Doha, with recurrent safety training built into your working schedule.
- Oryx International School: A Qatar Airways Group-run school in Doha exclusively for employees’ children — worth knowing if you’re relocating with family.
Monthly income is variable and tied directly to your flying hours and layover pattern, so a lighter roster month means less money.
What Does Qatar Airways Look For?
You must meet all of the following minimum requirements before applying:
- Age: At least 21 at the time of joining.
- Height and reach: Able to reach 212cm standing on tiptoes, without shoes — physically tested at the assessment day.
- English: Fluent, written and spoken. Arabic and other languages are a strong advantage and actively sought for certain assessment days.
- Education: Minimum high school graduate (Grade 12 or equivalent).
- Health: Excellent physical health and fitness.
- Appearance: No visible tattoos in uniform — checked formally at the assessment day, including a body inspection for scars and tattoos.
- Relocation: Based in Doha, living in company-provided accommodation.
Keep Watching This Space
Qatar Airways recruitment status can change quickly and without much notice. We are hopeful that the eight cities so far announced by Qatar Airways will be part of a much bigger recruitment drive in the near future.
This page is part of our ongoing coverage of Qatar Airways cabin crew recruitment, including the airline's working conditions and recent developments as well as the recruitment process itself. If you're getting ready to apply, here's where to go next.
