Coronavirus: Qatar Airways launches Brisbane flight to bring Aussies home

While airlines crumble due to coronavirus, Qatar Airways has seized on a rare opportunity and has launched brand new flights to Australia.

Stranded travellers have found an unlikely saviour in Qatar Airways as the airline launches new flights to Australia despite other airlines suspending international services.

The Doha-based airline will add 28 more flights to Australia each week until April 30, which equates to about 48,000 seats.

That includes a new daily service between Doha and Brisbane, which landed at Brisbane Airport for the first time yesterday.

RELATED: Follow the latest coronavirus updates

RELATED: Virgin Australia asks for $1.4 billion federal bailout

Qatar will also operate double daily flights to Melbourne and Perth and triple daily flights to Sydney.

Qatar's Adelaide and Canberra routes remain suspended.

Qatar Airways is operating daily flights to Australia while other airlines suspend international services.

The services will help stranded Australians get home as well as allow foreign nationals in Australia return to their home countries, particularly Germany, France, Scandinavia and the UK.

“We know this is an anxious time for many stranded travellers around the world who want to be with their families and loved ones during this difficult time," the airline's group chief executive Akbar Al Baker said in a statement.

"New travel restrictions are imposed every day limiting the places we can fly. We are thankful to the Australian Government, airports and staff for their support in helping us to add additional flights to take people home.”

Qatar Airways said it flew 13,458 Australians home between March 1 and 22.

Qatar Airways says it’s brought thousands of Australians home.

The airline's chief commercial officer Simon Talling-Smith told The Australian the airline saw an opportunity in the demand from returning travellers.

“We are seeing a wave of people all over the world who are determined to get home. I think that’s understandable in a time of crisis,” Mr Talling-Smith said.

“We obviously have to fly viable services, and most of the services coming out of Australia at the moment are very full but they’re not so full going into Australia. On average those services are doing okay.”

The airline will continue to operate about 130 daily flights to more than 65 cities around the world, despite fellow Gulf airlines Etihad and Emirates halting international services.