Qatar Airways is boosting its Australian network, following the re-opening of international borders this week.

The six-time Skytrax World’s Best Airline winner will increase its Doha-Brisbane operation to daily service from three times weekly on a permanent basis starting March 1 2022, alongside Perth increasing to seven weekly from three times weekly.

The carrier’s Auckland flights will also be re-routed to a service from Doha via Adelaide and operate three times per week instead of via Brisbane.

Qatar Airways Vice President of Sales for Southeast Asia, Southwest Pacific & Indian Subcontinent, Jared Lee, said flights between Doha and Sydney and Melbourne will also remain as daily service.

He said since the start of the COVID-19 global pandemic, Qatar Airways has been leading the aviation industry by being one of the very few airlines that operated throughout the crisis.

The airline has never stopped flying, and has played a critical role in global repatriation efforts by bringing over 3.2 million passengers worldwide home safely since March 2020, Lee said.

He added Qatar Airways has maintained its Australian routes throughout the pandemic across Sydney, Melbourne, and Perth, while launching services to Brisbane to provide essential connectivity to Australia.

It has carried over 330,000 passengers in and out of Australia since March 2020 via both commercial flights and special chartered services, according to Lee.

“As Australia reopens, we invite passengers to rediscover the world with the world’s best airline as we remain committed to serving the Australian market,” he said.

“We are proud to have maintained services to Australia by operating an honest and stable network, even expanding our Australian operations during the crisis, and transporting hundreds of tonnes of cargo to maintain vital supply chains for Australian agriculture exporters.

“When you travel with Qatar Airways, you’re flying with the world’s best airline as we strive for excellence in every aspect of our business.

“We have proven to be a safe and reliable airline for customers and our trade partners as we stand by them through good and bad times by never stopping flying throughout the pandemic.

“Passengers can travel with peace of mind knowing that Qatar Airways is committed to safety, and our 5-star COVID-19 safety rating is a testament to our efforts to stay the leading global airline for bio safety,” Lee said.

He said Qatar Airways has also been setting industry benchmarks for COVID-19 biosafety and hygiene by being the first airline to receive the Skytrax 5-stars COVID-19 Safety ratings, with 99.988% of its passengers traveling COVID-19-free.

Its Doha airport hub, Hamad International Airport (HIA), has also earned the Skytrax 5-stars COVID-19 Safety ratings, making Qatar Airways the only Middle-Eastern carrier where both the airline and its airport secured the highest Skytrax safety ratings.

Most recently, Qatar Airways also won Skytrax World’s Best Airline award for the 6th time, together with other Skytrax awards such as Best Middle-Eastern Carrier, Best Business Class, Best Business Class Seat, and Best Catering for Business Class.