The airline has become the latest international carrier to sign on at Sydney’s new 24-hour airport.
The route will link WSI with Qatar Airways’ hub at Hamad International Airport (DOH) in Doha, starting with three flights a week and expanding to daily service by the end of 2028.
What happened
Qatar Airways today announced the next phase of its expansion in Australia, with plans to launch three weekly direct passenger services between Hamad International Airport (DOH) and Western Sydney International Airport (WSI) from 15 December 2027. The new route, set to go on sale from 19 December 2026, will deliver more choice for Australian travellers and build on the airline’s role in connecting Australia with the world.
The detail
Flights from Doha will arrive at WSI at 23:45 local time, and the return flight will depart WSI at 16:10 local time the following day, arriving in Doha at 23:00 local time.
The wider picture
The route will be operated by Boeing 777-300ER aircraft with up to 354 seats, including 42 in Qsuite Business Class and 312 in Economy.
What comes next
Hamad Al Khater, Qatar Airways Group CEO, called the route “the next chapter in our long-standing partnership with Australia, one of our most important markets”. He said that, with WSI operating around the clock, the service would bring more international visitors to New South Wales and give exporters across the state a direct cargo link to the Gulf and beyond.
Additional context
According to Federal Transport Minister Catherine King, the connection to Doha would allow travelers from Western Sydney to “board a second leg to any corner of the globe”.
Analysis
The route received support from the Western Sydney International Take-Off Fund, which is jointly backed by the New South Wales government and WSI.
Reactions
The WSI announcement follows Qatar Airways’ plan, as unveiled in September, to fly to more than 170 destinations during the 2026–2027 Winter season, with nearly 1,800 weekly flights planned during December 2026.
Developments
Qatar Airways plans to resume daily flights to Canberra (CBR) via Melbourne (MEL) from December 9, 2026, reconnecting Australia’s capital to its network.
Developments · 2
Sydney service will increase from seven to 14 weekly flights, while Brisbane and Perth will restart with three and four weekly flights, respectively.
Developments · 3
Combined with Qatar Airways’ own flights, this brings weekly service to Doha to 21 from Sydney, 10 from Brisbane and 11 from Perth.
Developments · 4
From October 25, 2026, flights to Phuket International Airport (HKT) will increase from 14 to 21 a week, while service to Velana International Airport (MLE) in the Maldives will grow from 12 to 21 weekly flights. Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KUL) will have 18 weekly Qatar Airways flights, alongside 14 weekly flights by oneworld partner Malaysia Airlines.
Developments · 5
From November 7, 2026, flights to Tan Son Nhat International Airport (SGN) in Ho Chi Minh City will rise from seven to 11 a week, including four new nonstop flights from Doha. The existing Doha–Ho Chi Minh City–Phnom Penh service will continue.
Developments · 6
Daily flights to Abeid Amani Karume International Airport (ZNZ) in Zanzibar, Tanzania, are to resume on October 25, 2026. Johannesburg’s O. R. Tambo International Airport (JNB) will be receiving 18 weekly flights, up from 14, from December 2, 2026, and flights to Seychelles International Airport (SEZ) will increase from four to seven a week from March 1, 2027.
Developments · 7
In North America, flights to Montréal-Trudeau International Airport (YUL) are to increase from five to seven a week from October 25, 2026, a 40% increase in seat capacity.
Developments · 8
In Europe, London Heathrow Airport (LHR) will get 56 weekly flights, up from 49, from October 25, 2026, adding 11% more capacity. Frankfurt Airport (FRA) will go from 18 to 21 weekly flights from December 7, 2026.
Developments · 9
Qatar Airways will restore service to four cities in Saudi Arabia, each with two flights a week: Prince Naif bin Abdulaziz International Airport (ELQ) in Qassim from October 25, 2026; Taif International Airport (TIF) from October 31, 2026; Prince Abdul Mohsin bin Abdulaziz International Airport (YNB) in Yanbu from January 2, 2027; and Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz Airport (TUU) in Tabuk from January 3, 2027.
Developments · 10
This will bring the airline’s Saudi network to 12 destinations and more than 155 weekly flights.
Developments · 11
Qatar Airways is also continuing to expand Starlink Wi-Fi across its fleet. More than 150 of its widebody aircraft are now equipped, making up to 340 Starlink-enabled flights a day.
Local impactFollow how this story develops and what it means for you.
Source: Qatar Airways adds Western Sydney route as winter network tops 170 destinations (aerotime.aero) · Oct 21, 2026
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