The additional services, effective from the start of the Northern Winter schedules on October 25, will strengthen Qatar Airways’ operations in Europe and offer passengers more choice with increased connectivity to points across the Middle East, South Asia and the Far East.

Qatar Airways’ eagerly awaited launch date of operations to Australia also finally materialised, with December 6 announced for the thrice-weekly non-stop service between Doha and Melbourne. Going daily soon after and with flights to Sydney following in due course, Qatar Airways’ remains committed to further route expansion.

Qatar Airways Chief Executive Officer Akbar Al Baker said he was looking forward to the next few months as the airline’s expansion plans will see new aircraft joining the fleet and new routes added to the network.

“Qatar Airways this past week made yet another a significant mark at the Paris Air Show with a number of announcements showing our commitment to developing our network, expanding our operation, boosting our fleet size, and growing our business — a commitment that we will see through the current economic situation,” he said.

With route expansion very much part of the airline’s growth strategy, Al Baker said that the airline was looking forward to operating its first service to Australia and extending Qatar Airways’ reach to yet another continent with the launch of flights to Melbourne.

“I know the travelling public is eager for us to begin serving Australia and I’ve had many people ask me about our direct routes to Melbourne and Sydney. Once we’ve received the necessary aircraft from Boeing, we will be ready to operate,” he said, adding that the Australian operation will begin in time for the busy holiday season Down Under.

On the expansion of the French operation, Qatar Airways Area Manager France Eric Didier said: “We are looking forward to begin operating twice-daily flights to Doha from October 25 as there is huge demand and many of our corporate clients, in particular, with interests in the Gulf region have been looking forward to increased convenience.

"Qatar Airways has been delighted with this year’s show in Paris. Despite global concern about the current economic situation, we’ve had a very strong showing throughout the show and look forward to continued growth here in the French market and worldwide,” added Didier.

Qatar Airways currently operates a modern fleet of 68 Airbus and Boeing aircraft to 82 key business and leisure destinations across Europe, Middle East, Africa, South Asia, Far East and North America.

The airline will launch a further six new routes in the coming nine months, including Amritsar (October 11) and Goa (October 25) in India, Melbourne (December 6) and Sydney (date to be confirmed) in Australia, and a further two, as yet, unannounced routes in Europe.

Qatar Airways is the only 5-star rated Gulf airline, and from its hub in Doha, flies to over 80 destinations covering Africa, Europe, Middle East, Indian subcontinents, Far East and America. The carrier flies one of the youngest and most modern fleet of aircraft in the skies today and offers South Africans daily flights to Doha.

Visit www.qatarairways.com for more information and to book.