Australian property investors are now even closer to Qatar with the recent announcement that Qatar Airways has launched new flights between Doha and Melbourne.
Qatar’s multibillion-dollar programme of expanding the country’s transport infrastructure is gathering pace with a firm opening date set for the Doha’s new airport, tenders called for the first stage of a rail link and plans to revamp the public bus service all announced in recent weeks.
The new flights come as Qatar is building a brand new replacement airport called the New Doha International Airport (NDIA). The airport is being constructed 4km from the existing facility, on a 5,400-acre site (22km²).
The new airport is a response to a projected demand for additional international passenger capacity to the region. The current airport handles 4.2 million passengers a year, whereas the new airport will be able to handle 12.5 million a year after the first phase of construction.
The new route signals the beginning of Qatar Airways’ operations to Australia, and adds another continent to the airline’s rapidly expanding global network. Melbourne becomes the airline’s 85th destination and fourth new route of 2009. The airline plans to launch flights to Sydney next year.
Qatar Airways is operating its new aircraft – a Boeing 777-200LR delivered recently – on the route, flying initially three-times-a-week on Sundays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Flight QR030 will depart from Doha International Airport on Wednesday, Friday, Sunday at 12:45 pm, and arrive in Melbourne at 22:25 pm. On the return leg, Flight QR031 will depart from Melbourne International Airport on Wednesday, Friday, Sunday at 23:55 pm, and arrive in Doha at 06:25 am following day.
Effective January 1, 2010, Flight QR030 will depart daily from Doha International Airport at 12:45 pm, and arrive in Melbourne at 22:25pm. Flight QR031 will depart daily from Melbourne International Airport at 23:55 pm, and arrive in Doha at 06: 25 am following day.
Akbar Al Baker, Chief Executive Officer, Qatar Airways’ said, “Qatar Airways was looking forward to establishing a strong foothold in the Australian market, aiming to do so with the quickest scheduled flight times between Melbourne and London, its biggest market. At 21 hours, 40 minutes, including a short transit in Doha, Qatar Airways will offer Melbournians a new way of travelling to the UK .”
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