Many aviation observers blame the demise of Virgin Australia on its strategy to push Qantas on international routes, particularly its entry into long-haul markets using widebody aircraft. Virgin Australia is now back in the long-haul international game, but this time, it is using Qatar Airways aircraft and crews for its flights between Australia and Doha. Interim approval from the regulator Today, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) gave interim approval to the proposed alliance, allowing Virgin Australia to start selling tickets.
Under the interim approval, Virgin Australia and Qatar Airways can commence marketing and selling 28 weekly scheduled return flights between Doha and Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth and Sydney. These new services will supplement the existing Qatar Airways services on the routes. The services from Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane are planned to commence in June 2025, followed by the Perth service in November 2025.
Virgin Australia (VA) and Qatar Airways (Qatar) have given legally enforceable undertakings to refund or provide alternative flights to customers if final authorization is not granted. The decision to block Qatar Airways from adding more flights to Australia has created a media storm in Australia. Last year, Qatar requested to operate these services under its own name, but that was rejected by the Australian Government , leading to a political firestorm.
In effect, Virgin Australia is picking up the bilateral rights not bein.