From 1 October, Melbourne will become the first Australian city to be welcoming two daily flights from Doha, as part of a new partnership struck between Qatar airlines and the Victorian government.
According to the state government, the expansion of the Doha-to-Melbourne service is expected to boost economic activity by $82m and create more than 900 jobs in aviation and tourism.
The announcement was made on Thursday this week by the Minister for Industry Support and Recovery, Ben Carroll joined by Greek Australian Minister for Tourism, Sport and Major Events, Steve Dimopoulos.
Speaking at Melbourne’s Tullmarine airport, Mr Dimopoulos described the move as “a big win for the local Victorian economy”.
“Also importantly, a win for Greeks in Greece who are planning to visit Australia for tourism or to see family and friends and also for Greek Australians travelling home for a visit.”
Quoting Chief of Aviation at Melbourne Airport Lorie Argus, Mr Dimopoulos said that Qatar is considered to be a preferred airline by many Greek Australians and Greeks from Greece, “given the easy connections from Doha to Athens and regions in Greece and then direct to Melbourne.”
“So this is a great outcome.”
Minister Carroll said that Qatar Airway’s double daily service from October will equate to 250,000 arrivals into Victoria every year.
“We are building momentum. (It) follows similar announcements with Etihad and other major international airlines that are wanting to bring more tourism and more dollars here to Victoria.”
