Methods and apparatus for transmitting packets in wireless communication networks are disclosed. The methods include a relay mobile station measuring channel quality between the relay mobile station and a destination mobile station in response to a request for relay mobile stations from a base station The relay mobile station reports a channel quality indicator to the base station if the channel quality for a link between the base station and the destination mobile station via the relay mobile station is greater than a predetermined channel quality. The base station determines the relay mobile station that provides an optimal route for transmitting the packets from the base station to the destination mobile station.