The first Qatar Airways flight from Doha (DOH) to Australia’s capital, Canberra (CBR), began operations last month and was greeted with a traditional water cannon salute upon arrival.
“Qatar Airways is delighted to be expanding its reach in Australia by launching our fifth gateway into this beautiful country,” said Akbar Al Baker, CEO of Qatar Airways. “Since launching services to Sydney and Adelaide in 2016, we have reaffirmed our commitment to Australian travelers. We are pleased to offer our Australian customers access to the many new and exciting destinations we have added to our global network over the past year, including European cities such as Dublin, Kyiv, Prague and St. Petersburg. We also anticipate strong interest in additional new routes planned for this year, including Cardiff in the United Kingdom, Malaga in Spain and Mykonos in Greece.”
The route is operated daily with Qatar Airways’ Boeing 777 aircraft, configured with 42 lie-flat business class seats and 316 economy seats, delivering a mix of comfort and capacity for long-haul travelers.
“It is wonderful that Qatar Airways has made the decision to come to Canberra in 2018 — a year in which our city was recognized as the third best city in the world to visit by Lonely Planet,” said Andrew Barr, Chief Minister of the ACT, welcoming the arrival of the second international carrier serving the capital. The new service is expected to boost visitor numbers and provide more direct connectivity for both business and leisure travelers.
The introduction of the Doha–Canberra service further strengthens air links between Australia and the Middle East, offering passengers additional options for travel to Europe, the Middle East and beyond through Qatar Airways’ Doha hub. With daily frequencies and a modern widebody aircraft, the service aims to meet growing demand for convenient, long-haul connections and support tourism and trade between the regions.