Qatar Airways will restart its Canberra route after ceasing the service during the pandemic with daily flights between the capitals via Melbourne to commence no later than December next year.
The Canberra-Doha flights (via Melbourne) will be operated on QR Boeing 777 aircraft, featuring the airline’s Qsuite Business Class cabin.
Canberra marks QR’s sixth Australian gateway after Canberra Airport Managing Director Stephen Byron forecasted the missing route returning last year.
“The return of Qatar Airways marks an exciting and pivotal moment for Canberra and our surrounding regions,” he said.
“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.”
Qatar Airways Group CEO Engr. Badr Mohammed Al-Meer said: “We are delighted to be able to serve Canberra once again. The nation’s capital 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.”
“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.”
The news also comes hot on the heels of the launch sale of Virgin Australia’s new services from Sydney, Brisbane and Perth to Doha (operated on QR aircraft) as part of the Qatar Airways–Virgin Australia partnership, pending regulatory approval.
Virgin Australia’s Melbourne-Doha flights will go on sale in January 2025 and commence in December 2025.
For more info, head to qatarairways.com
