Qatar Airways will start flying to Sydney from March 1, 2016, using a Boeing 777-300ER with a cargo capacity of approximately 20 tonnes.

“The launch of our new route to Sydney connects us to a key location in Australia and strengthens our position as a global network carrier,” said Ulrich Ogiermann, chief officer of cargo at Qatar Airways. “From a cargo perspective, Sydney has a strong export market for perishables into the Middle East region, which is a great fit for our QR Fresh product.”

Kerrie Mather, managing director and chief executive officer of Sydney Airport, said that she was looking forward to welcoming the airline.

“The new daily service will significantly boost inbound tourism to New South Wales, as well as create an estimated 3,000 jobs, including 2,500 in NSW, and contribute over $240 million to the Australian economy,” said Mather. “Qatar Airways’ service will also provide greater air cargo access to the Middle East and the growing Qatar market, which is great for NSW exports.”

Qatar Airways Cargo is expecting the flight to predominantly carry meat and other perishable goods to the Middle East region from Sydney, as well as a small volume of pharma products and flowers. For the flight into Sydney, on the other hand, the carrier is forecasting that the bulk of the cargo will consist of consumer products purchased from online shopping portals.

Ogiermann said that one potential challenge is the fact that, from a cargo perspective, Sydney is not a significant exporter.

“However, due to the demand in the Middle East for Australian perishables, especially for meat, it is an important destination for Qatar Airways Cargo to add to its network,” he said. “We are confident that this demand will increase, particularly given the rapid growth of Qatar and other GCC countries, both now and in the future.”

Sydney will be the airline’s third destination in Australia, after Melbourne and Perth.

Timings for the daily flight are as follows.