Virgin Australia is set to begin long-haul flights using Qatar Airways aircraft starting June 12. This move will see Virgin Australia utilizing the Australian half of traffic rights to and from Qatar, currently unused, as a means of expanding into the competitive long-haul market on behalf of Qatar Airways.
Virgin Australia, which previously retired most of its widebody aircraft five years ago, will lease Boeing 777-300ERs and crew from Qatar Airways. These flights will operate from Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth, and Sydney to Doha. The aim is to bolster competition against Emirates and Singapore Airlines in routes to and from Europe.
The new arrangement marks Virgin Australia's return to the Middle East after it previously flew to Abu Dhabi between 2011 and 2017 in partnership with Etihad Airways. That relationship ended on June 1, 2025. Now partnered with Qatar Airways, which owns a 25% stake in Virgin Australia, the airline will launch its first Doha flight on June 12.