Qatar returns to Canberra this December

QATAR BOEING 777-3DZ A7-BEE (MSN 60331)

Qatar Airways will resume flights to Canberra (CBR/YSCB) in December 2025, reconnecting the Australian capital with Doha (DOH/OTHH) and beyond as the airline expands its global network. This will align with Virgin Australia’s launch of Melbourne-Doha flights, operated with Qatar Airways planes and crew. 

The Canberra flights, however, won’t be direct—they will stop in Melbourne as part of the QR988/QR989 service, breaking the 18-hour journey with a 2½-hour stopover in both directions. 

QR989 will leave Canberra at 12:30pm, arriving in Doha at 10:25pm, while QR988 departs Doha at 8:15am, landing in Canberra at 8:20am the next day. This route replaces the current Adelaide-Melbourne-Doha service and mirrors the original Canberra-Sydney-Doha route from 2018, which ended in 2020. 

The flights will use Boeing 777s, featuring business class Qsuites and free Starlink WiFi. To mark the relaunch, Qatar Airways is offering Early Bird fares for bookings until the 31st of October 2025, with travel from the 19th of January to the 31st of October 2026. Business class fares start at $7,759 return, with similar rates available from other cities like Melbourne and Brisbane. 

Qatar Airways Chief Commercial Officer Thierry Antinori stated the airline’s return to Canberra underscores its commitment to enhancing Australia’s global connectivity. Canberra Airport CEO Stephen Byron highlighted the opportunity to showcase Canberra’s cultural, educational, and tourism attractions.