Qatar Airways was founded by the government of Qatar on November 22, 1993, and started its operations on January 20, 1994.

Qatar Airways started flying in January 1994, using a leased Airbus A310 aircraft. This marked the beginning of its journey in the aviation industry.

Qatar Airways' first destination was Amman in May 1994, marking the beginning of its route network expansion.

In 1995, Sheikh Hamad Bin Ali Bin Jabor Al Thani, the CEO of Qatar Airways at the time, hired 75 staff members for the airline. This move contributed to the growth and success of Qatar Airways in the aviation industry.

Qatar Airways acquired a second-hand Boeing 747SP from Air Mauritius in 1996, enhancing its fleet capabilities.

In January 1997, Calcutta was removed from the airline's route network.

In March 1997, Qatar Airways replaced their 747s with the first two A300-600 aircraft, which were previously leased and flown by Garuda Indonesia and Ansett Worldwide.

In September 1997, Muscat was removed from the airline's route network.

In July 1998, the carrier placed a firm order with Airbus for six Airbus A320s, with deliveries scheduled between 2001 and 2005.

The airline took delivery of the first A320 powered by Aero Engines V2500 on lease from SALE in February 1999.

In April 2000, a fourth A300-600R aircraft on lease from AWAS joined the airline's fleet.

In October 2000, Qatar Airways ordered an International Aero Engines V2500-powered Airbus A319CJ.

Qatar Airways ordered its first two A380 aircraft in 2001, marking a significant milestone in its fleet expansion and commitment to Airbus aircraft.

In May 2002, Qatar Airways withdrew from Gulf Air to focus on the development of its national airline.

During the Paris Air Show in June 2003, Qatar Airways placed an order with Airbus worth US$5.1 billion for various aircraft models including A321s, A330s, and A340-600s. The deal included multiple aircraft types and options for additional planes.

The Qatar Airways Group, which includes various aviation-related businesses, reported its first profit ever for the fiscal year ending in March 2004. This marked a significant financial achievement for the group.

In July 2004, Zürich became the 53rd destination for Qatar Airways, expanding its global reach. The addition of Zürich further strengthened the airline's network and connectivity.

In December 2004, Qatar Airways added Yangon to its list of destinations, enhancing its presence in the region. The expansion to Yangon provided more travel options for passengers.

In March 2005, Qatar Airways launched a new service to Osaka, further expanding its network in Asia. The addition of Osaka as a destination offered more travel choices for passengers.

On September 8, 2006, Qatar Airways received its first A340 aircraft, marking a milestone in the airline's fleet expansion. The delivery of the A340 enhanced the carrier's long-haul capabilities.

An Airbus A300 was written off due to a hangar fire during maintenance at Abu Dhabi Aircraft Technologies.

In late November 2007, Qatar Airways took delivery of its first 335-seater Boeing 777-300ER. This marked the addition of a new aircraft type to the airline's fleet, enhancing its long-haul capabilities.

In November 2008, Qatar Airways commenced a new scheduled service to New York-JFK, replacing the Newark route. This expansion into a key international destination signified Qatar Airways' global growth strategy.

On June 15, 2009, at the Paris Air Show, Qatar Airways ordered 20 Airbus A320 and 4 Airbus A321 aircraft. This order represented a strategic move to enhance the airline's short to medium-haul fleet.

On October 12, 2009, a Qatar Airways Airbus A340-600 conducted the world's first commercial passenger flight using a mixture of kerosene and synthetic gas-to-liquids (GTL) fuel, produced from natural gas. The purpose was to demonstrate the viability of jet fuel made from a source not subject to rapidly fluctuating oil prices.

The Boeing 777F (A7-BFA) was delivered to the airline on May 14, 2010.

On May 18, 2010, the airline operated its first Boeing 777F (A7-BFA) flight from Doha to Amsterdam.

In April 2011, Qatar Airways achieved a milestone by reaching 100 destinations, and has since expanded to over 130 destinations.

At the Dubai Airshow in November 2011, Qatar Airways placed an order for 55 Airbus planes: 50 A320neo and 5 A380, along with two Boeing 777 freighters.

On October 8, 2012, Qatar Airways announced its intention to join Oneworld within the next 18 months, with the joining ceremony taking place on October 29, 2013.

On November 12, 2012, Qatar Airways became the seventh carrier globally to receive the Dreamliner, deploying it on the Doha–Dubai route.

On November 17, 2013, during the Dubai Airshow, Qatar Airways bought 50 Boeing 777-9Xs, solidifying the commitment.

On May 27, 2014, Qatar Airways officially moved its operations to Hamad International Airport, marking a significant milestone in its route network expansion.

Qatar Airways became the launch customer for the A350 XWB, receiving the first Airbus A350-900 on December 22, 2014.

In January 2015, Qatar Airways made history by becoming the launch customer for the A350 XWB, showcasing its commitment to operating state-of-the-art aircraft for passenger comfort and efficiency.

Qatar Airways revealed in June 2015 that they ordered ten Boeing 777-8Xs and four more Boeing 777Fs.

In August 2015, Qatar Airways modified its policy regarding cabin crew employment, allowing flexibility for pregnant or newly married employees.

On December 27, 2016, Qatar Airways Cargo announced the launch of freighter operations to four new destinations in the Americas, including Buenos Aires, São Paulo, Quito, and Miami. Boeing 777 freighters would fly twice a week to these cities starting February 2, 2017.

As of February 5, 2017, Qatar Airways operated the longest regularly scheduled flight of a commercial airline, between Doha and Auckland.

On September 1, 2017, Qatar Airways bought 49% of AQA Holding, the new shareholder of Meridiana.

An Airbus A321 was damaged beyond repair by a fire at Hamad International Airport in Doha.

In February 2018, Qatar Airways signed a deal to become FC Bayern Munich's sleeve sponsor for domestic competitions starting in the 2018-19 season, which was later extended to 2025 as part of a seven-year agreement.

In April 2018, Qatar Airways became the primary shirt sponsor of A.S. Roma.

In July 2018, Qatar Airways signed a deal to become the primary shirt sponsor of Boca Juniors.

In August 2018, Qatar Airways became a 'prestige partner' and the official airline sponsor for the 2018 Asian Games.

In October 2018, Qatar Airways became the primary sponsor of the CONMEBOL club competitions for the South American market as part of a four-and-a-half year deal until the 2022 season.

In November 2018, Qatar Airways announced the expansion of its flights to Iran, landing at Tehran and Shiraz in January 2019, and to Isfahan in February.

In December 2018, CEO Akbar Al Baker threatened to pull Qatar Airways out of the Oneworld alliance following accusations of 'hostile business practices' by alliance members Qantas and American Airlines.

On April 30, 2019, Qatar Airways retired its last Airbus A340-600 from service after around 16 years, aiming to lower the age of its fleet and improve efficiency.

On June 18, 2019, Qatar Airways commenced its first flight from Doha to Davao, Philippines, expanding its global reach.

Thirteen Australian female passengers on a Qatar Airways flight were forced to deplane at gunpoint, strip searched, and subjected to invasive internal examinations after a newborn baby was found in an airport bathroom. This incident led to a diplomatic conflict between Australia and Qatar.

After an eight-year absence, Qatar Airways resumed service to Cebu on July 24, 2021, making it the third destination in the Philippines served by the airline.

On August 24, 2022, it was announced that Qatar Airways would sponsor the Egyptian football club Al Ahly SC.

British travel industry executive Marc Bennett was found hanged in his hotel room in Doha. The circumstances surrounding his death raised questions, with Qatar Airways mentioning his unauthorized sharing of confidential documents as a reason for his arrest.

On February 22, 2023, Formula One announced a partnership with Qatar Airways, replacing Emirates as the Global Airline Partner in a multi-year deal starting from the 2023 season.

On March 3, 2023, Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) signed Qatar Airways as its title sponsor for three years in a ₹75 crore deal.

Qatar Airways restarted its flight to Birmingham Airport on July 6, 2023, after a temporary suspension due to low demand caused by COVID-19 travel restrictions.

On September 8, 2023, Alpine F1 Team announced a partnership with Qatar Airways to become the Official Airline Partner for promoting the 2023 Qatar Grand Prix.

On November 13, 2023, Inter Milan announced a partnership with Qatar Airways to become the Official Airline Partner.

The Federal Court of Australia dismissed the case related to the 2020 incident, as the searches did not occur on a Qatar Airways aircraft and were not conducted by the airline's staff. Qatar expressed disapproval of the incident and apologized multiple times.