Qatar Airways has launched scheduled flights to the Western Australian city of Perth, officially marking the start of thrice-weekly services to the mining hub.

Perth becomes Qatar Airways’ second gateway in Australia after Melbourne – and the carrier’s 117th destination worldwide.

It is also the latest of several route launches by the rapidly-growing global airline this year.

Operated by the award-winning airline’s flagship long-haul Boeing 777 aircraft, passengers will fly in supreme comfort, with fine dining onboard and access to more than 1,000 in-flight audio and video entertainment options in every seat.

Qatar Airways’ chief executive Akbar Al Baker led a high profile delegation onboard the non-stop flight, QR900 from Doha to Perth, including His Excellency Pablo Kang, Australia’s ambassador for Qatar based in the UAE, along with airline executives, as well as international and local media.

Addressing guests on arrival, Al Baker said Qatar Airways’ arrival in Perth marked one of the Gulf carrier’s biggest route launches this year.

“Today marks a very special occasion as we celebrate our arrival into a city that shows enormous potential and growth, both as a competitive tourism destination and as the hub of Australia’s mining and exploration industry.

“There has never been a better time to expand in Australia – a time when the Australian dollar is strong and business and leisure travellers worldwide search for easier and quicker ways to connect and do business,” he added.

“Our flight connections to Africa in particular will greatly please the people of Western Australia, whose strong links with the mining and business communities in East Africa signal enormous growth potential.

Qatar Airways also operates daily non-stop scheduled flights from Melbourne to Doha using its signature Boeing 777 long-range aircraft with convenient onward connections to cities across Europe, Africa, Middle East and both North and South America.