The Qatar Airways Group and Virgin Australia obtained the approval of the Australian Competition and Consumer Committee for the integrated alliance between the two companies.
And Qatar Airways said, in a statement, that this final decision officially indicates the launch of 28 new flights per week for “Virgin Australia” air company between Australia and Doha, which is being operated under a lease contract with Qatar Airways.
The approval of the Australian Competition and Consumer Committee for the Australian carrier will increase competition in the travel market, while providing greater options and value for travelers from Australia.
Virgin Australia – which will operate aircraft rented from Qatar Airways – is scheduled to start long -term flights to Doha of Sydney, Pespan, and Barth from June 2025, followed by Melbourne to Doha in December 2025.
Through Hamad International Airport in Doha, flights allow more than 100 air tracks across Europe, the Middle East and Africa.
The new trips will offer a large boost to the Economy and the Australian tourism sector, and this produces an economic value of about 3 billion Australian dollars over the next five years.
This cooperation will support the growth of job opportunities, whether in “Virgin Australia” or in the wider aviation and tourism sectors in Australia.
This comes in the wake of the Australian government’s approval of the Qatar Airways Group’s investment by 25% “Virgin Australia” as of February 27, 2025 to join the company “Pine Capital”, the shareholding company at the largest value.
Badr Mohamed El -Mir, CEO of the Qatar Airways Group, said: “The announcement of the Australian Competition and Consumer Committee today gives a clear indication of the desire to provide competition and the global level and valuable service to travelers from Australia.”
He added: “This represents the beginning of a new chapter in the relationship between our airline.”
For his part, the CEO of Virgin Australia, Dave Emerson, said: “The approval of the Australian Competition and Consumer Committee on our deep strategic partnership with Qatar Airways is the beginning of a new chapter for us and a scientist of opportunities for our employees and customers.”
He added: “We are already witnessing some positive benefits of partnership, including increasing the movement of airline tickets between Australia, Europe, the Middle East and Africa thanks to increasing competition.”
As for the Competition Committee, Anna Baraki, she said: “We are more likely that this procedure will return with general benefits, such as increasing the scope of trips between Australia and the Middle East.”
