Qatar Airways will operate Boeing 777s on the Canberra flights. Photo: Canberra Airport.
Qatar Airways has announced it will re-launch daily flights out of Canberra Airport to Doha and beyond.
The daily flights will operate via Melbourne to the airline’s hub, Hamad International Airport in Doha. This will give Canberra travellers access to more than 170 destinations across Qatar Airways’ global network.
Qatar did not provide an exact date for the first flight to touch down in Canberra, but it said flights will commence no later than December 2025.
The airline will operate Boeing 777 aircraft, featuring its award-winning Q-suite Business Class cabin and complimentary high-speed Starlink Wi-Fi for all passengers.
Canberra will be the sixth Australian city Qatar will service.
The COVID-19 pandemic grounded Qatar’s Canberra flights early in 2020. The airline attempted to resume services in 2022, but “operational reasons” have kept it in a holding pattern until now. But Qatar’s purchase of a 25 per cent stake in Virgin Australia, pending final regulatory approval, has transformed the aviation landscape.
Today’s announcement follows the launch of sales of Virgin Australia’s new services from Sydney, Brisbane, Perth and Melbourne to Doha using Qatar Airways aircraft.
Qatar says the Virgin Australia partnership positions the Australian carrier to compete strongly in the international travel market, delivering increased competition, improved connectivity and more choice.
The return of Qatar also raises hopes that Singapore Airlines will come back to Canberra.
Both Canberra Airport CEO Stephen Byron and ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr welcomed the announcement.
Mr Byron said the restart of Qatar Airways services was a significant milestone for the Canberra region, which would benefit from increased competition, more choice, lower airfares and global connections.
“The return of Qatar Airways marks an exciting and pivotal moment for Canberra and our surrounding regions,” he said.
“This service not only provides over a million residents access to a global network spanning more than 170 destinations but also invites the world to rediscover Canberra’s unique cultural, educational, and tourism offerings.
“We believe that providing a greater choice of carriers and destinations not only makes prices more competitive but also opens up boundless opportunities for our community, connecting our city to the rest of the world.
“These opportunities are not just about enhancing connectivity; they’re about strengthening business connections, driving economic development, and creating jobs, as well as fostering tourism and attracting international students to our vibrant city.”
Mr Barr said the Qatar move would boost inbound tourism in the ACT, benefit trade and business, and benefit Canberra’s international travellers.
“It’s a timely boost to our local tourism industry, with aviation access being the biggest driver to growth in the sector, and it’s great news for Canberrans wanting to travel overseas, particularly to Europe, the United Kingdom and the Middle East,” he said.
“Qatar Airways’ return will benefit the whole Canberra region, providing tourism, trade, investment and a range of business opportunities.
“It will also make an important contribution towards the government’s goal of growing our tourism economy to 5 billion in visitor expenditure by 2030.”
Qatar Group Chief Executive Officer Badr Mohammed Al-Meer said the airline was delighted to be able to serve Canberra once again.
“The nation’s capital, the political heart of Australia, rightly expects to be served by a range of international airlines, and I am proud that we are able to play our part in that,” he said.
“Whether travelling for business, government services or leisure, our commitment to Australia, and to Canberra, will bring much needed healthy competition to the market and greater choice for passengers.”
Qatar Airways Privilege Club members will now have the additional option of flying into and out of Australia to earn Avios points. They can also spend Avios on award tickets on this new service.
Virgin Australia Velocity members will be able to collect and spend Velocity Points, adding to the scope of the existing partnership. Eligible passengers will also enjoy reciprocal lounge benefits.
Original Article published by Ian Bushnell on Riotact.
