It currently operates two flights a week, which would rise to three from next month.

The carrier then hopes to resume daily flights from September.

The moves come as Emirates resumed Glasgow-Dubai flights today, which are due to increase from four times a week to daily from 1 August and twice daily from 1 September.

‘Quite empty’

Qatar’s chief strategy and transformation officer Thierry Antinori told The Scotsman today its flights into Edinburgh were “reasonably busy” but those from Edinburgh to Doha were “quite empty”.

However, he said cargo being carried on the flights was bringing in additional revenue.

Mr Antinori said passengers were mainly people visiting family and friends, or returning to live in Scotland.

Popular destinations included Australia, Hong Kong, Japan and South Korea, which are not on the Scottish Government’s 14-day quarantine list, along with Pakistan and Singapore, which require quarantine on return to Scotland.

Face shields

Qatar is one of a very few airlines which now require passengers to wear face shields, or visors, as well as masks or coverings.

However, no seats are left empty between passengers not travelling together if flights are busy.

Airlines have said air flow through the cabin and air cleaning, plus seats acting as a barrier, reduces the risk of the spread of Covid-19.

Mr Antinori said there had been only five coronavirus cases among the 155,000 passengers which Qatar had carried since February.

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