Virgin Australia can start selling tickets for new Qatar Airways-operated flights between Doha and four Australian capital cities following an interim approval by the country’s competition watchdog on Friday. The interim approval by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) allows Virgin Australia and Qatar Airways to commence marketing and selling 28 weekly scheduled return flights between Doha and Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth, and Sydney.
”We consider that granting interim authorization now will allow Qatar Airways and Virgin Australia the lead time to undertake the necessary planning discussions, marketing, selling and system alignment in preparation for Virgin Australia to commence flying the new services by June 2025,” ACCC deputy chair Mick Keogh said.
Services to start in June 2025
The new services will be in addition to the international services already operated by Qatar Airways. The airlines sought urgent interim authorization to enable Virgin Australia to start flying its new Australia-Doha services from Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane in June 2025, with Perth services to follow in November 2025.
This comes after Australia’s government last year denied Qatar Airways’ requests to fly additional services to the four capital cities.
Under the proposed arrangements, Virgin Australia would use Qatar Airways craft and crew to operate the new services. In the aviation industry, this agreement takes the name ‘wetlease’ arrangement.
“We are carefully considering the concerns that interested parties have raised, particularly around the wetlease arrangements and the impact of the proposed exclusivity arrangements between Virgin Australia and Qatar Airways,” Keogh said.
Under the proposed arrangements Velocity members will continue to be able to earn and redeem Velocity points on Singapore Airlines’ operated services globally, including to and from Europe, the Middle East, and Africa.
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Customer protection
The approval comes as Qatar Airways awaits Australian approval to buy a 25 percent stake in Virgin Australia from U.S. private equity Bain Capital ahead of Virgin’s anticipated return to public ownership after more than four years.
The Qatar Airways deal will enable Virgin Australia to launch flights from Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth, and Sydney to Doha, connecting seamlessly with Qatar Airways’ global network. These extra flights will open up more than 100 new connecting itineraries across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa for Australian travelers.
The airlines will offer the new services upon final regulatory approval by the ACCC and other government bodies.
The ACCC noted that if it does not grant final regulatory approval, it will ensure customer protection for those who have booked these new services. “Affected customers will be given the option of a refund or re-accommodation on a suitable alternative flight at no additional charge,” Keogh added.
