What is going on in Canberra!
Canberrans could be able to fly direct to Doha in two years after the Middle Eastern airline announced the nation's capital as its fifth direct Australian destination.
The announcement came as a surprise to the ACT government and Canberra Business Chamber on Tuesday, despite Qatar Airways and Canberra Airport management expecting an announcement at some point.
ACT deputy chief minister Yvette Berry said the government heard "at the same time everyone else did this morning".
"The devil is always in the detail but certainly it's been something the chief minister has been working really hard on, getting international flights here in the ACT," she said.
"We've got international flights to Wellington now and Singapore and we didn't have to do much and now we've got some interest from another international flight from Qatar so we'll look with interest at what their proposal will be and we'll certainly take them up on any offers and conversations about how we can work together," she said.
Qatar Airways announces flights to Canberra with its list of new 2017-18 destinations