Qatar Airways has followed suit after Singapore Airlines became the first carrier to offer direct international flights to and from Canberra Airport in September last year.
Less than a month ago, Qatar Airways announced its plans to start flights between Doha and Canberra, surprising the ACT Government.
Singapore Airlines currently fly to Singapore and Wellington four times a week, with Qatar Airways pushing direct flights to and from the capital up to full throttle!
The move by the airline is nonetheless very exciting for Canberra.
“It’s very positive that you have the private sector wanting to invest in Canberra without government support,” Opposition Leader Alistair Coe says.
After Singapore Airlines began international flights, it was assumed that others would follow, which has proven to be the case.
Qatar Airways has not announced a start date for the flights, but the airline’s CEO Akbar Al Baker says, “We look forward to welcoming [this] destination in 2017-18.”
Qatar Airways was one of the first airlines named as a five-star carrier, winning Airline of the Year, Best Business Class and Best Airline in the Middle East in 2015.
Canberra Airport General Manager, Stephen Byron thinks it’s possible that another international airline could announce direct flights that might commence before Qatar Airways – securing Canberra as a popular destination for international carriers in the future.
