Canberra Joins Melbourne, Sydney, Perth and Brisbane as Qatar Airways Unleashes a New Era of Seamless Long-Haul Travel for Australian Explorers

Published on December 2, 2025

Qatar Airways will resume daily flights between Doha and Canberra via Melbourne in December 2025, creating one of the most extensive long-haul aviation corridors linking Australia with the Middle East, Europe, Africa and Asia. According to the airline’s official operational announcement and supporting details available through Australian Government aviation channels, the return of the Canberra service positions the Australian Capital Territory alongside Melbourne, Sydney, Perth, Brisbane and Adelaide in Qatar Airways’ national network. The reinstatement strengthens Australia’s global tourism connectivity, enhances inbound visitor access and supports long-haul travel demand at a time when international mobility continues to expand.

The Doha–Canberra service operated via Melbourne restores a crucial route for Australia’s capital region, which serves government agencies, diplomatic missions, events, educational institutions and cultural attractions. With Doha providing direct one-stop connections to more than 170 international destinations, Canberra re-enters a global travel network that supports both economic and tourism development.

Daily Flight Structure: Officially Confirmed Route Information

Government transport frameworks and Qatar Airways’ published operational structure confirm a detailed flight pattern designed for seamless travel:

Route Structure

Doha → Melbourne → Canberra → Melbourne → Doha

This routing mirrors the airline’s former Canberra operation and complies with bilateral air services regulations governing international carriers operating into Australia.

Launch Date

December 2025, aligned with the airline’s Northern Winter scheduling window.

Frequency

Daily operations (7 times per week), restoring consistent, predictable long-haul access for Canberra and connecting passengers.

Aircraft Category

Qatar Airways’ Australian services typically use widebody long-haul aircraft, historically the Boeing 777 or Airbus A350 family. These aircraft meet all Australian Government aviation, biosecurity and safety compliance standards required for international arrival and departure operations.

Connection Process for Travellers

• Outbound: Canberra → Melbourne (domestic sector) → Doha (international departure)
• Inbound: Doha → Melbourne (customs & biosecurity clearance) → Canberra (domestic arrival)

This structure supports smooth baggage handling and streamlined customs processing, consistent with Australian Border Force procedures.

Canberra Rejoins Key Australian Gateways in a Reinforced National Network

By restoring Canberra, Qatar Airways now operates across six major Australian cities:
Melbourne, Sydney, Perth, Brisbane, Adelaide and Canberra.

Each city enhances the airline’s role in Australia’s tourism and aviation system:

Melbourne

As the primary transit point for Canberra, Melbourne plays the central operational role in the reinstated service. It serves as Victoria’s long-haul tourism hub and supports broader international passenger distribution across the southeast.

Sydney

Sydney remains a high-volume gateway for global tourism, providing essential access for business travel, events tourism and inbound leisure markets. Its integration with Doha ensures strong year-round international visitor movements.

Perth

Perth connects Western Australia to Doha’s strategic transit network, supporting inbound tourism from Europe and the Middle East—markets identified as high-value contributors by national tourism authorities.

Brisbane

Brisbane’s position as a global leisure and business hub complements Queensland’s tourism priorities, especially for visitors exploring the Great Barrier Reef, Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast and outback regions.

Adelaide

Adelaide’s cultural and gastronomic tourism offerings attract inbound travellers from Europe and Asia. Doha’s one-stop connections provide accessibility that aligns with South Australia’s international market objectives.

Canberra

The ACT benefits significantly through restored global access, supporting government travel, academic mobility, events tourism and leisure visitation linked to national institutions.

Together, these six cities create a unified national travel network with Doha functioning as a global bridge connecting Australia to major long-haul markets.

Tourism Advantages for Canberra and the Wider Nation

Canberra’s return to Qatar Airways’ route map delivers several key advantages:

1. Improved International Visitor Access

Visitors from Europe, the Middle East, Africa and South Asia—markets well served through Doha—gain a direct one-stop entry into the ACT.

2. Strengthened Events and Conference Travel

The capital hosts major government, educational and cultural events that rely on stable long-haul connections.

3. Enhanced Student and Academic Mobility

Canberra’s universities and research institutions depend on connectivity for international enrolment and global partnerships.

4. Increased Tourism Dispersal Across Regions

By offering multiple entry points—Melbourne, Sydney, Perth, Brisbane, Adelaide and Canberra—the network reduces congestion at primary hubs and supports tourism distribution across Australia.

5. Support for Tourism 2030 Development Goals

The Australian Government’s long-term tourism framework prioritizes improved international connectivity, diversified markets and stable airline participation, all of which are met by this expanded Qatar Airways presence.

Impact Across Australia’s Tourism Landscape

By joining Canberra with Melbourne, Sydney, Perth, Brisbane and Adelaide, Qatar Airways enhances travel flexibility and provides the national tourism industry with stronger global reach. Each city benefits from access to Doha’s high-frequency global network, allowing travellers to connect to:

• More than 40 European cities
• Major African tourism gateways
• Leading Middle Eastern destinations
• South Asian cultural and business hubs
• Key East Asian visitor markets

Long-haul travel through Doha reduces the need for multi-stop itineraries, enabling efficient passenger movement across borders and creating a competitive alternative for Australian travellers.

A Strategic Step Supporting National Aviation and Tourism Priorities

The resumption of Canberra flights highlights Qatar Airways’ long-standing engagement with the Australian aviation market. By expanding its presence to six cities, the airline enhances national capacity, strengthens inbound tourism flows and supports aviation resilience. Tourism authorities consistently link increased international seat capacity with improved visitor spending, higher regional dispersal and stronger economic outcomes.

The Doha–Canberra service, operated via Melbourne, reflects a strategic alignment of airline capability, government aviation agreements and Australia’s long-term tourism development framework.

Conclusion: A United Travel Corridor Linking Australia With the World

Qatar Airways’ restoration of daily Doha–Canberra services via Melbourne—alongside its existing operations in Sydney, Perth, Brisbane and Adelaide—creates one of the most comprehensive long-haul networks available to Australian travellers. The December 2025 relaunch strengthens global connectivity, supports international visitor growth and enhances travel opportunities for residents across multiple states and territories.

With Canberra reconnected to global tourism flows through Doha’s world-class hub, Australia gains a renewed international travel bridge built on reliability, strategic routing and government-aligned aviation standards. This return marks a significant milestone for national tourism, offering a stable and expansive foundation for future travel demand.

Image: Qatar Airways