Qatar Airways Launches New Flights to Australia

Qatar Airways is expanding its Australian presence by confirming flights to a new Western Sydney airport from late 2027.

The Doha-based carrier will begin operations between its hub and Western Sydney International Airport (WSI) from 15 December 2027, adding a second Sydney-area airport to its gateway.

Qatar Airways’ announcement means the airline will also become the first Middle Eastern carrier to commit to the new airport as a long-haul operator, and it is a vital deal for Western Sydney as it develops a network of airlines serving it.

Western Sydney to get Qatar Airways three times a week

The initial Doha to Western Sydney flights will be operated by a Boeing 777-300ER configured with 42 Business Class and 312 Economy Class seats, therefore a two-class layout providing a capacity of 354.

QR906 departs Doha at 0140 on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, arriving in Western Sydney at 2345; the airport’s 24/7 availability makes this arrival time possible.

Returning QR907 departs Western Sydney at 1610 on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, arriving in Doha at 2300. The published schedule also lists the block times for the flight to Sydney at around 14 hours, and 14 hours 50 minutes back to Doha.

At the current scheduled rate, Qatar Airways would offer 1,062 seats in each direction every week and, with performance, slots, and aircraft availability, would look to scale in the future, targeting daily operations around one year after the route first launches.

Qatar Airways now joins QantasLink, Jetstar, Singapore Airlines, Air New Zealand, Fiji Airways and VietJet as one of the first airlines to commit to the new airport and capture market share immediately.

Qatar Airways gets its Australian expansion wish

For several years, Qatar Airways has aggressively tried to expand into Australia, but obstacles have long prevented it; its pursuit and agreements with Virgin Australia have been a workaround, but not the ideal outcome first proposed.

Adding Western Sydney to the network gives Qatar Airways a new Australian gateway and access to the growing west and south-west catchment area, different from that at Sydney Kingsford Smith (SYD).

The new airport aims to attract a growing population and ease congestion at Kingsford Smith, allowing Qatar Airways to offer a new point in the country and avoid relying solely on the state’s primary airport.

A 24-hour operating schedule is also an attractive selling point for operations into Western Sydney International Airport, with a 2345 arrival at the airport falling inside the overnight curfew at Kingsford Smith and thus meaning this route wouldn’t have been permitted if it wasn’t for the new location.

The route announcement also comes as the Australian Government updates its air services agreements with Qatar and extends them to the United Arab Emirates, paving the way for seven additional services per week through WSI for each country.

Destination NSW welcomes the updated agreement because it supports the development of the newly constructed Western Sydney International Airport, meaning the operation can be supported with an AUD 16 million take-off fund to help attract airlines immediately at opening.