Qatar Airways Launches Melbourne Flights

[Andrew Ong 1]

Qatar Airways will launch daily flights from Qatar to Melbourne and back:

 

Qatar Airways Launches Melbourne Flights

 

MELBOURNE (Australia), March 16 (Bernama) -- Qatar Airways will launch daily services to Melbourne under a bilateral air services deal between Australia and Gulf nation Qatar.

 

Australia's Deputy Prime Minister and Transport Minister Mark Vaile today announced the successful negotiation of the new arrangements allowing Qatar's national carrier to operate services to and from Melbourne.

 

Australian carriers will gain access to Europe through Doha under the agreement which Vaile said was an important milestone in the development of Australia's aviation relations with the Middle East.

 

He said the government valued the contribution that airlines like Qatar Airways could make to Australia.

 

Vaile said Qatar's government had recognised the significance Australia placed on the issue of fair and equitable access for Australian carriers to developing aviation hubs.

 

"Without the ability to operate services through intermediate hubs such as Doha to long haul destinations in Europe, Australian carriers cannot compete effectively on the world stage," he said.

 

Under the revised air services agreement finalised in Doha on March 15, Qatar Airways can launch the daily service to Melbourne and introduce a second daily service to another Australian city from 2008.

 

-- BERNAMA

 

 

 

[Kee Hooi Yen 0]

Non-stop Doha-MEL ?

[Andrew Ong 1]

Non-stop Doha-MEL ?

 

Yes

 

[Keith T 2]

For years they were stalled at 3xweekly. Good thing Canberra has come to its senses.

[Keith T 2]

http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/qat...3722750179.html

 

Seems like the flights will go via BKK.

 

Also, IC plans to fly here via SIN.

Edited March 16, 2007 by Keith T

[Y C LEONG 1]

equipment? can they use A346?