Virgin Australia & Qatar Airways Alliance Approved by ACCC

Post by: Omar Nasser

Photo : Reuters

Virgin Australia and Qatar Airways have received approval from the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) to work together. This partnership will increase the number of flights between Australia and Doha over the next five years. The two airlines will now operate 28 new return flights every week, connecting Doha with Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, and Perth.

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As part of the agreement, Virgin Australia will use Qatar Airways' planes and staff, but the flights will have a Virgin flight number. The new flights from Sydney, Brisbane, and Perth to Doha will begin in June, while flights from Melbourne will start in December. After reaching Doha's Hamad International Airport, travelers will have the option to connect to more than 100 other destinations across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa.

This partnership is expected to bring economic benefits worth about $3 billion over five years. The ACCC believes that more flights will create competition and lower ticket prices, making international travel more affordable. ACCC commissioner Anna Brakey said this agreement will give passengers more flight choices and better loyalty program rewards. She also said the deal will not harm Australian airline workers.

Brakey explained that no Australian airline, including Virgin Australia, was likely to start flying directly to Doha on its own. Because of this, approving the partnership was the best option to give Australians more travel opportunities.

Virgin Australia’s chief executive, Dave Emerson, called this a "big moment" for the airline and for Australian air travel. He welcomed Qatar Airways as both a business partner and part-owner of Virgin Australia. He said this showed great confidence in Virgin’s business and in the Australian airline industry.

Qatar Airways Group chief executive Badr Mohammed Al Meer said this agreement marks a "new beginning" in their relationship with Virgin Australia. He said the approval shows that there is strong demand for better service, more travel options, and lower prices for Australian passengers.

Virgin Australia will still keep its existing partnerships with South African Airways and Virgin Atlantic, and those agreements will not be affected. Virgin and Qatar Airways first applied for approval to work together in October 2024. In November, they were given temporary approval to begin making arrangements. Tickets for the new flights were made available for purchase in December.

In February, Qatar Airways bought 25% of Virgin Australia. The Australian government supported this decision, saying it would create jobs, help the tourism industry, and strengthen Australia as a global travel hub.

This partnership will allow passengers to enjoy better flight options, cheaper tickets, and a smoother travel experience as both airlines work together to expand their services.

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