The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has granted authorization for a groundbreaking integrated alliance between Virgin Australia and Qatar Airways, set to transform air travel between Australia and the Middle East. This five-year agreement will double the frequency of flights between Doha and major Australian cities, bringing significant benefits to Australian travelers.
Key Points of the Alliance
- 28 new weekly return services between Doha and Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, and Perth
- Virgin Australia will operate these flights using Qatar Airways’ aircraft and crew under a ‘wet lease’ arrangement
- These new services will complement Qatar Airways’ existing international routes
- Flights are scheduled to commence from June 2025
Consumer Benefits
ACCC Commissioner Anna Brakey highlighted several anticipated benefits from this partnership:
“This will likely place downward price pressure on these routes and will also give customers of Virgin Australia and Qatar Airways a greater choice of international flights with additional connectivity and loyalty program benefits.”
The increased capacity is expected to create healthy competition in the market, potentially leading to more competitive pricing on routes between Australia and the Middle East. For consumers, this means:
- More flight options and scheduling flexibility
- Enhanced connectivity to destinations beyond Doha
- Integrated loyalty program benefits across both airlines
- Potential fare reductions due to increased competition
Addressing Concerns
While the alliance received broad support following the ACCC’s draft determination in February 2025, some stakeholders raised concerns about potential impacts on Australian aviation jobs. The ACCC addressed these concerns in their decision, noting:
“We consider it unlikely that Virgin Australia or any other Australian airline would commence operating Australia-Doha services on a stand-alone basis in the next five years, even if the conduct was not authorized.”
The commission concluded that the arrangement was unlikely to have a material detrimental impact on the Australian aviation workforce.
Questions were also raised about how the partnership might affect Virgin Australia’s ability to form partnerships with other airlines. The ACCC determined that the impact on consumers would likely be minimal, as Velocity Frequent Flyer members will still be able to earn and redeem points on Singapore Airlines services globally, including routes to Europe, the Middle East, and Africa.
Looking Ahead
The ACCC initially granted interim authorization in November 2024 to allow the airlines to begin marketing and selling the new Australia-Doha services. With full authorization now granted, travelers can look forward to these new flight options beginning in June 2025.
This partnership represents a significant development in Australia’s international aviation landscape, offering consumers more choice and potentially better value when traveling to the Middle East and beyond. It also strengthens Virgin Australia’s international network capabilities through strategic partnership rather than direct fleet expansion.
For frequent travelers, business passengers, and tourists alike, the doubling of flight capacity between Australia and Doha opens up new possibilities for connecting to destinations throughout Europe, Africa, and the Middle East, making global travel more accessible from Australian shores.
This blog post is based on the ACCC’s media release dated March 28, 2025. For more information, visit the ACCC’s public register.
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