The inaugural flight VA21 left for Doha just after 3:45pm Perth time on Thursday aboard the wet-leased Qatar Airways 777-300ER A7-BEL. The launch follows Sydney and Brisbane earlier this month, with Melbourne flights to commence in December.
The carrier will increase its Sydney–Istanbul services from four to five per week in mid-June this year, then six in October, and finally daily from 12 January. Flights will be operated using A350-900s via Kuala Lumpur, shifting to non-stop next year w…