Qatar Airways is set to re-launch daily flights to Canberra, the capital city of Australia.
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The daily flights to Canberra will operate via Melbourne to the airline’s hub, Hamad International Airport, in Doha. This service will commence in December 2025 and will be operated by a Boeing 777 aircraft.
This will feature the airline’s Q-suite Business Class cabin and complimentary high-speed Starlink Wi-Fi for all passengers.
It’s taken time, with Qatar Airways ceasing services during 2020, for it to evaluate that the market conditions are ripe enough for the airline to return to Cambera and the Australian Capital Territory.
The move follows the Virgin Australia planned route launches, which will utilise Qatar Airways aircraft and crews.
In Quotes
Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive Officer, Engr. Badr Mohammed Al-Meer, said:
“We are 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. Whether travelling for business, government services or leisure, our commitment to Australia, and to Canberra, is one that we know will bring much needed healthy competition to the market and greater choice for passengers.”
Canberra Airport CEO, Mr Stephen Byron, added:
“The return of Qatar Airways marks an exciting and pivotal moment for Canberra and our surrounding regions. 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,” 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.
“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.”
ACT Chief Minister, Mr Andrew Barr concluded:
“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.”
“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 AU$5 billion in visitor expenditure by 2030.”
Filling in the dots and lines
The Qatar Airways flights to Canberra are a “fill-in” segment between Melbourne and Canberra, before returning to Melbourne for passengers to take back to its hub in Doha. It should provide a convenient one-stop flight for those in the city and the region who need to connect without going to Sydney first (either by rail, driving, or flying).
And sometimes, that single-seat ride does matter when travelling to reduce the headache of transfers as well as headaches down the line (because we’ve all been in a situation where we’ve been running for a flight thanks to a broken down car, train or other delay).
With this dot and line pencilled back in, it should add more options and more connectivity for those who need to travel to Canberra, or out into the wider world.
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