Qatar Airways has confirmed it will operate daily flights between Perth and Doha from December following the arrival of its inaugural service into the WA capital.
Flight QR900 landed 15 minutes ahead of schedule at just before 5pm local time yesterday, with the return departing Perth just before 11pm.
Qatar will operate a three times weekly Boeing 777 service until December when it will increase to a daily schedule, the airline's chief executive Akbar Al Baker said during a ceremony at Perth Airport to mark the arrival of the first flight.
Perth shows "enormous potential and growth", Al Baker told gathered dignitaries, both as a leisure and business destination.
"There has never been a better time to expand in Australia, a time when the Australian dollar is strong and business and leisure travellers worldwide search for easier and quicker ways to connect and do business," he said. "Our flight connections to Africa in particular will greatly please the people of Western Australia whose strong links with the mining and business communities in East Africa signal enormous growth potential."
Perth Airport chief executive Brad Geatches said the services will open up new opportunities for WA residents.
"A quarter of Perth Airport’s international passengers travel to and from Europe, with the UK being the largest source of international visitors to WA," Geatches said. "Qatar Airways will offer a one stop service to these destinations and many more from its hub in Doha, helping these markets continue to grow.
Perth is Qatar's second Australia port after Melbourne and its 117th destination worldwide.
Services to Tanzania will start later this month followed by Mombasa on August 15, Yangon, Burma on October 3 and Maputo, Mozambique on October 31. Flights to Belgrade will also begin although a launch date has yet to be announced.
