SYDNEY SET FOR NEW DAILY SERVICE FROM QATAR

A new daily service from Doha, Qatar, will fly into Sydney from March 1 next year providing an additional 122,500 seats into our Harbour city each year. Seven new daily direct services per week from Doha to Sydney will be serviced by Qatar Airways Boeing 777-300 aircraft which carries 335 passengers – 42 in Business Class and 293 in Economy.

The airline has a strong and growing network, with Doha a connecting hub for Europe, Africa and Asia. Sydney currently welcomes 35,000 visitors from the Middle East who spend $200m annually in NSW, so the new services will significantly increase visitation, particularly given they will provide a greater link to the United Kingdom and Europe.

Minister for Trade, Tourism and Major Events Stuart Ayres welcomed the announcement. “Sydney is the gateway to Australia and our most popular city and state for visitors. This new service from Qatar Airways will enable NSW to capitalise on the airline’s access to European markets as well as countries across their global network, and according to Sydney Airport will generate an estimated $95m to the NSW visitor economy. In addition at least 2,500 jobs are expected to be created in NSW as a result of the new service.”

Destination NSW CEO Sandra Chipchase said the state’s tourism and major events agency looks forward to developing a partnership with Qatar Airways on campaigns to grow business, education and holiday-maker visitation to Sydney and NSW.

“We look forward to welcoming more visitors to our state and working with our new airline partner, Qatar Airways,” Ms Chipchase said.