DOHA, QATAR — Qatar Airways has unveiled a new onboard signature music composed in partnership with award-winning German composer and music producer Hans Zimmer.
The airline announced the collaboration on Friday, November 6, 2026. The new composition is inspired by Qatar’s culture and heritage. It will be introduced onboard its flights from the same day.
The Collaboration
The project brings together Zimmer’s acclaimed cinematic composition and Qatar Airways’ focus on delivering memorable passenger experiences. It uses music to create an emotional connection with travellers throughout their journeys.
The airline said the new composition forms part of a broader sound identity. This identity is captured in an exclusive five-track album titled Burgundy Symphony. The album incorporates original musical pieces reflecting different stages and emotions associated with travel.
According to Qatar Airways, the album was designed to capture the emotions, moments, and memories that define the travel experience. It draws inspiration from Qatar’s cultural identity and the airline’s distinctive passenger services.
The Unveiling
The unveiling was celebrated at Hans Zimmer’s concert in Doha on Friday. Guests were given an exclusive insight into the creative process behind the collaboration.
A specially produced film detailing the inspiration and development of Burgundy Symphony was screened during the event. It was accompanied by a preview of the original compositions.
The Five Tracks
The five-track album comprises Dawn, Dusk, The Orchard, Homecoming, and An Ode to Qatar. Each composition represents a different dimension of the travel experience.
The opening track, Dawn, captures the anticipation and possibilities associated with embarking on a journey. It reflects the excitement of leaving familiar surroundings to discover new destinations.
The second composition, Dusk, reflects the tranquillity of flying as daylight gradually fades. It evokes the feeling of travelling above the clouds beneath a star-lit sky.
The Orchard, the third track, draws inspiration from moments of relaxation, calm, and reflection. Its creative inspiration comes from The Orchard, one of the distinctive passenger attractions at Hamad International Airport in Doha.
The fourth composition, Homecoming, explores the emotional satisfaction of returning home after a journey. It also reflects the lasting memories travellers take away from their experiences.
The track also reflects the idea that the adventure of travelling continues beyond arrival.
The album concludes with An Ode to Qatar, a musical tribute to the country’s cultural heritage, history, and aspirations for the future.
The composition brings together elements of tradition and modernity. It reflects Qatar’s efforts to preserve its cultural identity while pursuing its ambitions as an internationally connected nation.
Availability
Qatar Airways said the collection was intended to establish a recognisable musical identity. It would become part of the overall passenger experience, extending beyond conventional inflight announcements and entertainment.
Following its unveiling, Burgundy Symphony has also been made available on the airline’s YouTube channel. This allows audiences worldwide to listen to the compositions and experience the musical interpretation of travel and Qatar’s cultural identity.
The collaboration represents another effort by the airline to differentiate its passenger experience.
Airline’s Performance
Qatar Airways has continued to invest in its global passenger proposition. Its network connects more than 170 destinations through Hamad International Airport during the 2026 winter season.
The airline said it had also increased its daily flight operations across the Middle East by 14 per cent for the winter season.
In terms of industry recognition, Qatar Airways said it had retained its five-star airline rating and secured the Skytrax World’s Best Airline title for the ninth time.
It also received the Skytrax World’s Best Business Class award for the 13th time. It also won the World’s Best Business Class Airline Lounge award for the eighth time.
The airline further retained its position as the recipient of the Best Airline in the Middle East award for the 14th time.
Technology and Operational Recognition
In another recognition of its technology investments, Qatar Airways said it had received Skytrax’s World’s Best Onboard Wi-Fi award. This followed the deployment of Starlink connectivity across more than 150 widebody aircraft.
The airline disclosed that more than 25 million passengers had been connected through the service. It also noted up to 340 daily Starlink-enabled flights.
Its operational performance also received recognition from aviation analytics organisation Cirium. The organisation awarded the airline its 2025 Platinum performance recognition for reliability and operational performance.
Hub Recognition
Meanwhile, Hamad International Airport has maintained its international profile. It has been recognised as the Best Airport in the Middle East for 11 consecutive years. It also won the World’s Best Airport Shopping award for the third consecutive year by Skytrax.
The airport has also received the World’s Best Airport title three times in the past six years.
Environmental Commitment
Beyond passenger experience and operational performance, Qatar Airways said it remained committed to environmental management and responsible aviation practices.
It was the first airline in the Middle East to achieve the highest level of certification under the International Air Transport Association’s Environmental Assessment programme.
The airline also said it became the first globally to receive industry-standard certification for preventing illegal wildlife trafficking in aviation. This followed its role as an inaugural signatory to the Buckingham Palace Declaration in March 2016.
With the introduction of Burgundy Symphony, Qatar Airways is seeking to add a new dimension to its brand identity. It is using original music to create a consistent emotional experience for passengers from the beginning of their journeys to their eventual return home.
