Qatar Airways has completed its inaugural flight from Doha to Sydney.

The daily flight is operated by a Boeing 777-300ER, offering 84 tonnes of cargo capacity per week to and from Australia’s biggest city.

“Touching down here in Sydney for the first time today is an important milestone for Qatar Airways and for the people of Australia,” said Akbar Al Baker, chief executive of the Qatar Airways Group. “We are delighted to be able to offer passengers flying from Sydney the opportunity to connect to more than 150 places on our global network via our state-of-the-art airport in Doha.”

Kerrie Mather, managing director and chief executive officer of Sydney Airport, said that the new service will generate an estimated 3,000 jobs and contribute more than A$240 million [US$176 million] to the Australian economy.

“It will also foster trade, providing greater air cargo capacity and access to the Middle East,” said Mather. “Australian exports to Doha grew by 23 percent last year, and the State of Qatar’s high demand for livestock, cereal, meat, dairy products and crops provides a significant opportunity for Australian exporters.”

Sydney is the airline’s third destination in Australia, having launched Melbourne in 2009 and Perth in 2012.

Details of the flight are as follows.