Virgin Australia resumes international flights with new routes under Qatar Airways partnership

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Virgin Australia resumes international flights with new routes under Qatar Airways partnership

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A321XLR | Airbus

By Sky Industry News

Dec 12, 2024

Virgin Australia is re-entering the international travel market after a hiatus of four and a half years. The airline, in partnership with Qatar Airways, has announced new direct flights from Sydney, Brisbane, and Perth to Doha. Bookings for these services are now open for travel starting June next year.

To mark this occasion, Virgin Australia has launched a seven-day sale on fares. Economy sale fares include destinations such as Athens, London, Paris, and Rome with varying prices depending on departure city. For example, flights from Brisbane to Athens start at $1967, while business class fares from Perth to London are priced at $4,347 one-way.

The Boeing 777-300ER aircraft will feature Qatar's award-winning Qsuite. Virgin Australia Group CEO Jayne Hrdlicka stated that the launch represents "a huge win for Australian Travellers which brings more value and choice for passengers wanting to fly internationally."

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Hrdlicka emphasized the significance of this development for Virgin Australia: “For Virgin Australia, this marks a significant milestone.” She highlighted that the new weekly services to Doha will allow passengers access to over 100 destinations worldwide via Qatar’s network.

She also noted the economic benefits of these additional flights: “Virgin Australia’s additional flights to Doha are also great news for small businesses seeking opportunities to export their goods to the Middle East.”

Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive Officer Engr. Badr Mohammed Al-Meer expressed support for Virgin Australia's return to long-haul international flying: “We are proud to support Virgin Australia’s ambition... a crucial next step in their successful transformation program.” He mentioned that if approved, this investment would enhance service and value offerings for Australian customers.

Al-Meer further commented on the increased cargo capacity provided by these new services: "Australian small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and corporate travellers could also take advantage of access to competitive fares and a stronger international airline network.”