A lot happened in Australian aviation in 2024. Long story short competition on the domestic market significantly went down following two carriers having to cease operations. However, something happened that might increase competition on the international flight segment. Qatar Airways invested in Virgin Australia taking ownership of a substantial portion of the airline’s equity in a clever move to increase its presence in the lucrative Australian market. I invite you to read that full post to get all the details. Now, however, the partnership is just a few months away from taking off.
Final Countdown: Virgin Australia and Qatar Airways Get Final Green Light on Alliance
The final hurdle for the VA-Qatar Airways alliance to overcome was getting the approval of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC). The authority would have to decide if the newly born partnership would hinder competition and hurt customers by increasing prices in any way.
It’s now official that the ACCC has given the alliance a thumbs up, clearing the road to the alliance starting to operate their first flights. What comes next you ask?
Qatar Airways, states in its press release, that Virgin Australia will return to international long-haul flights thanks to this ruling and partnership. That is technically true but let me explain a little more about how the operation will work.
28 new weekly flights will be activated between Doha (Qatar) and Australia, one daily flight from Perth, Sydney, and Brisbane, starting June 2025, with Melbourne coming online in December 2025. These 28 flights will be served under Virgin Australia flight numbers while using wet leased aircraft from Qatar Airways. It’ll be Qatar Airways service for all that meets the passenger’s eye.
Why Do the New Virgin Australia Doha Flights Have This Structure?
Well that’s where the smart planning by Qatar Airways comes into play. The Doha-based airline, by investing in Virgin Australia and creating this synergy, partnership, and alliance has found a work-around the current weekly cap it has been stuck in. Qatar Airways has been trying in every way possible to increase its flights to Australia, only to be met by resistances and rejected applications.
By getting into business with Virgin Australia and operating flights under the VA brand it is effectively finally increasing its flight offering down under.
The Virgin Australia Qatar Airways Alliance: What’s in It for the Passengers?
For starters passengers flying Qatar Airways and Virgin Australia will have access to a much broader network. Incoming passengers will have more timing flexibility and transfer options to domestic services. Outbound passengers will have access to the vast Qatar Airways network of flight the airline operates from its hub in Doha Hamad International Airport.
Additionally, the alliance also puts in place a reciprocity agreement regarding the airlines’ loyalty programs. Qatar Airways’ Privilege Club and Velocity members will earn miles on both airline’s flights along with being able to redeem them for award flights.
An Opportunity for Virgin Australia Crew?
Although flights will be operated by Qatar Airways wet leased aircraft, there is some sort of opportunity for Virgin Australia crew in this deal. Qatar Airways will be providing secondment opportunities for 20 Virgin Australia pilots and 40 cabin crew in 2025.
This might be a hint into the possibility of Virgin Australia maybe sometime in the future operating some long-haul international flights on some of its own planes. That however is just a speculation, and it would involve Virgin Australia getting its hands on some wide body aircraft which it hasn’t owned since 2023 and operated since long before then.
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