This is being done to meet rising passenger demand, the Doha-based carrier has said in a press statement.
The 517-seater A380 aircraft will increase Qatar Airways’ current daily capacity by 44% on this route to meet the growing travel and trade demand, connecting Melbourne-based passengers and freight to more than 150 destinations globally.
Qatar Airways Group chief executive Akbar al-Baker said, “As we continue to grow apace in Australia, we have seen a clear need to inject additional capacity on the Melbourne service. We are delighted to introduce our A380 aircraft to Melbourne after seven years of operation to the world’s most liveable city.
"Well-travelled Melburnians will find our seamless and quick connections via Doha’s Hamad International Airport a great and easy travel option. And our expansive European network provides plenty of homecoming options for one of Australia’s most culturally diverse cities, which is home to many families from European heritage, including the UK, Italy and Greece.”
Melbourne is the original home for Qatar Airways in Australia, with the airline adding services to Perth, Sydney and Adelaide thereafter. The airline started flying to Australia’s second largest city on December 6, 2009, with a 259-seater B777 aircraft. With the introduction of daily A380 services, capacity on the Melbourne route will increase two-fold since 2009, the statement notes.
The 517-seat capacity on the A380 is spread across twin decks in a tri-class configuration of eight seats in First Class, 48 seats in Business Class and 461 in Economy Class. Passengers travelling from Melbourne to London and Paris can enjoy the Qatar Airways A380 experience throughout their journey to these two European destinations.
When transiting through Qatar Airways’ hub, Hamad International Airport in Doha, passengers travelling from Melbourne can enjoy a comfortable and efficient transit. The airport has over 40,000sqm of retail space and restaurants, including more than 70 retail and 30 food & beverage outlets, as well as a 25m swimming pool, gym, hotel and spa.
Travellers who would like to turn their transit into a stopover experience can take advantage of the new 96-hour transit visa offered in partnership with Qatar Tourism Authority.
The Melbourne-Doha daily flight schedule is as follows: QR904 departing Doha at 8.50pm and arriving in Melbourne at 5.20pm (+1), and QR905 departing Melbourne at 10.05pm and arriving in Doha at 5.25am (+1).
