Brandwave

Qatar Airways vs United Airlines:Which is more popular?

In September 2026, United Airlines had more branded searches than Qatar Airways among airline brands worldwide. United Airlines had about 6.1 million branded searches, while Qatar Airways had 3.4 million. United Airlines made up 19.3% of all airline brand searches we track, and Qatar Airways accounted for 10.5%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about airline brands, Qatar Airways and United Airlines each appeared in three of the five answers. Qatar Airways and United Airlines were each mentioned first in two of the four answers.

Among airline brands worldwide in September 2026

Who do people search for more?

United Airlines, about 83% more searches than Qatar Airways

United Airlines 6.1M searchesQatar Airways 3.4M searches

Who does AI mention more?

Both were mentioned in 3 of 5 answers.

Qatar Airways in 3 of 5United Airlines in 3 of 5

Who does AI recommend more?

Each is named first in 2 of 4 answers.

Qatar Airways first in 2United Airlines first in 2

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Top airline brands in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Qatar Airways and United Airlines were each mentioned in three out of five: in two of the three ChatGPT answers and in one of the two Google AI Overviews. Qatar Airways and United Airlines were each listed first in two of the four answers.

Most recommended by AI

Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.

  1. Delta Air Lines1st
  2. Qatar Airways2nd
  3. Singapore Airlines3rd
  4. Southwest Airlines4th
  5. United Airlines5th
  6. Emirates6th
  7. Cathay Pacific7th
  8. British Airways–
  9. Qantas–
  10. Air New Zealand–

Mentioned by AI

Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.

  • United Airlines3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Emirates3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Southwest Airlines3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Delta Air Lines3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Qatar Airways3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Singapore Airlines3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Cathay Pacific2 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • British Airways0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Qantas0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Air New Zealand0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers

See every answer about airline brands

5 answers

Not named in any answer:

Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in the United States on October 19, 2026.

Is Qatar Airways or United Airlines more popular in search?

This chart shows how often people search Google for Qatar Airways and United Airlines by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all ten airline brands we track, month by month, from English-language searches worldwide.

Qatar Airways and United Airlines among airline brands worldwide, by month

Share of searches by month for United Airlines, Qatar Airways. The figures are in the table below the chart.

View monthly share of searches table
MonthUnited AirlinesBritish AirwaysEmiratesSouthwest AirlinesDelta Air LinesQatar AirwaysSingapore AirlinesCathay PacificQantasAir New Zealand
Oct 202517.9%12%14.6%14.6%9.8%12%6.5%5.3%5.3%2%
Nov 202519.1%10.4%15.6%12.7%10.4%12.7%7%4.7%5.7%1.7%
Dec 202520.1%11%13.4%13.4%11%13.4%6%4.9%4.9%1.8%
Jan 202616.4%13.4%13.4%13.4%11%13.4%7.3%4.9%4.9%1.8%
Feb 202618.1%12.1%14.8%14.8%9.9%12.1%6.6%4.4%5.4%1.6%
Mar 202616.2%10.8%19.7%10.8%8.8%16.2%7.2%4.8%4%1.5%
Apr 202618.8%12.6%15.4%12.6%10.3%12.6%6.9%4.6%4.6%1.7%
May 202618.8%12.6%12.6%15.4%12.6%10.3%6.9%4.6%4.6%1.7%
Jun 202618.8%12.6%12.6%15.4%10.3%12.6%6.9%4.6%4.6%1.7%
Jul 202618.4%12.3%12.3%15%12.3%12.3%6.7%4.5%4.5%1.7%
Aug 202618.6%12.4%12.4%15.2%12.4%10.2%6.8%4.6%5.6%1.7%
Sep 202619.3%15.7%12.9%12.9%10.5%10.5%7%4.7%4.7%1.7%

How has the Qatar Airways and United Airlines comparison changed over the last 12 months?

3 findings

How did search popularity change for airline brands worldwide in September 2026?

2 changes

  1. In September 2026, United Airlines gained share of searches among airline brands worldwide, from 18.6% to 19.3%.

  2. Estimated monthly branded searches for Qatar Airways worldwide fell 18.1% over 12 measured months, from 4.1M to 3.4M in September 2026.

How are branded searches counted?

2 search terms

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Qatar Airways’ and United Airlines’ names. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for these branded terms can be used to understand whether interest in the brands is growing, holding steady, or fading.

Qatar Airways

1 branded search term

  • qatar airways

United Airlines

1 branded search term

  • united airlines

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

Other head-to-heads among airline brands

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