Virgin Australia is set to re-enter the long-haul international market with the help of Qatar Airways. The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has granted interim approval for an alliance between the two airlines, allowing Virgin Australia to begin selling tickets for flights between Australia and Doha using Qatar Airways aircraft and crews.
The ACCC's interim approval permits Virgin Australia and Qatar Airways to market and sell 28 weekly return flights connecting Doha with Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth, and Sydney. These new services will complement existing Qatar Airways routes. Flights from Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane are scheduled to start in June 2025, with Perth following in November 2025.
Virgin Australia and Qatar Airways have committed to refunding or providing alternative flights if final authorization is not granted. Last year, a request by Qatar Airways to operate these services independently was rejected by the Australian Government. This decision led Virgin Australia to utilize unused bilateral rights through a wet lease arrangement.