Australian Travel Company: News: Qatar Airways begins flights to Australia:

Qatar Airways begins Melbourne service 
 
   Gulf Times, December 7th, 2009
Akbar al-Baker, Chief Executive Officer of Qatar Airways speaking at the press conference in Melbourne yesterday following the airline’s inaugural flight to Australia.

 Pictured with him are Qatar Airways senior vice-president Commercial Operations Marwan Koleilat and Tim Holding 

Qatar Airways has launched scheduled services to Australia following the airline’s inaugural flight to Melbourne on Sunday night. The new Doha–Melbourne 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 award-winning airline’s 85th destination and fourth new route of 2009.
The carrier plans to launch flights to Sydney next year. On board the maiden flight QR030 from Doha was the airline’s chief executive officer Akbar al-Baker, who led a high-profile delegation, including the Australian Ambassador to the UAE and Qatar, Doug Trappett, international media and senior company executives.

Qatar Airways is operating its newest aircraft – a Boeing 777-200LR delivered less than four weeks ago – on the route, flying initially three-times-a-week on Sundays, Wednesdays and Fridays. The Doha-based airline takes delivery of another Boeing 777-200 Long Range aircraft direct from Boeing’s Seattle manufacturing base this month and will use the aircraft on the Melbourne route, stepping up frequency to daily from January 1, 2010.

Victorian Government Minister of Tourism and Major Events, Tim Holding provided an official welcome for Qatar Airways at the State Government Offices in Melbourne, where a joint press conference was held yesterday morning. Addressing the media, al-Baker said: “We have been eagerly planning our entry into the Australian market for several years – and we are delighted to finally arrive here in Melbourne. “Qatar Airways would like to extend its appreciation and thanks to the Australian authorities that have worked tirelessly to pave the way for Qatar Airways to begin its operations.”

Al-Baker said that 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 the most convenient and fastest way of travelling to the UK.” Tim Holding said it was a fantastic milestone for Victoria’s tourism industry and for Melbourne as a leading gateway city to Australia to welcome Qatar’s national carrier to the city.

The Melbourne flights are operated using brand new Boeing 777-200 Long Range aircraft, with 42 seats in Business Class and 217 in Economy. The 2–2–2 configured Business Class seats convert into 180 degree horizontal flat beds, each with a 78-inch pitch on par with First Class of many airlines. In the economy class, the 3–3–3 configuration means one less seat per row compared with competitors and a seat pitch of up to 34 inches offering unrivalled levels of space and comfort.

As part of its growing presence in the Australian market, Qatar Airways plans to launch daily non-stop flights between Doha and Sydney in 2010, also using the Boeing 777-200 Long Range aircraft in the same configuration as on the Melbourne route.