Australia’s Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) tentatively approved a commercial alliance between Virgin Australia and Qatar Airways, concluding that the alliance is unlikely to pose a threat to competition and may enhance travel options for consumers.
Under the proposed five-year arrangement, Qatar Airways will serve as Virgin Australia’s exclusive partner for interline, codeshare, and loyalty programs in the Middle East and Türkiye, with reciprocal arrangements in Australia, despite Qatar Airways’ affiliation with Qantas in the Oneworld alliance.
The alliance would enable Virgin Australia to wet lease Qatar Airways’ B777-300ER aircraft to operate daily flights to Doha from major Australian cities, including Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, and Perth, while addressing the gap in long-haul international capacity that emerged post-COVID-19.
The ACCC plans to finalize its decision by the end of April 2025, and Qatar Airways will soon adjust its Australia flight schedule, including discontinuing daily A380 flights to Perth and modifying other routes to enhance efficiency.
