The construction of Canberra airport's new lounge is well underway. It is merely weeks away from launching the capital's first international flights.
Singapore Airlines will offer direct flights between Canberra, Wellington and Singapore.
The hope is the new routes will make it easier for Indian Australians in Canberra to fly to India without having to make their first pit stop in Sydney or Melbourne.
For 11 years, the Raval family in Canberra would have to first undertake a three and half hour journey to Sydney by road, before embarking on their international flight to India.
"With two kids, it becomes a daunting task. The kids get tired. The journey becomes longer. But guess the new international flights will make life easier. The 3.5 hour journey to take an international flight from Sydney will be reduced to 20 mins for our family," Mittal Raval says.
Not only this, the international flights will also open new opportunities for both travel and trade.
It is expected to become a gateway to Asia that will supercharge business to the region.
Stephen Byron, who is chief executive officer of Canberra airport, told SBS, “It marks the internationalisation of our city, but it's also a very significant step forward for business."
Canberra airport will launch four international flights a week, connecting the capital to Singapore and Wellington in New Zealand.
Singapore Airlines spokesman Karl Schubert says it is an initiative that has been three years in the making.
"I think, ultimately, what that will help to do within the Canberra region is not just open up Canberra to the world but provide an opportunity for Canberra businesses to take themselves to the world as well."
It will not be just travellers, international students and diplomats on board but is also likely to boost the local agricultural sector.
Transport Minister Darren Chester says new trade routes will open up for local agricultural producers.
"Opportunities for our agriculture producers to get cargo, obviously, on board the plane as well and servicing markets in New Zealand and Singapore in a far more efficient way than they have in the past."
The federal government says agribusiness in the region will have better access to Asian markets, where demand for their product is high.
Canberra airport hopes the move helps it become a gateway to Asia.
Singapore may be the starting point, but Australia also has its wider hopes set on Asia's largest market, China.
Travellers from China make up the biggest source of international visitors to Canberra, with over 28,000 arriving in the capital last year.
Stephen Byron says he hopes Canberra airport's new international flight facilities will draw interest from Chinese airlines, too.
"We're seeing a number of the carriers in China establishing new direct services to new capital cities. And we are going to be the next capital city in Australia that will have direct flights to China."
Darren Chester says he believes it is just a matter of time before other international airlines take notice, too.
"Inevitably, there will be other airlines that will see this opportunity. They will see Singapore Airlines and look at their competitor doing well. I think it will be a successful route, and they will look at opportunities to perhaps get into the market themselves."
The first international flights from Canberra will begin on September the 21st.
