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The International Air Services Commission (IASC) has asked the Department of Transport for advice on whether it should grant Virgin Australia 28 flights per week to Doha.
In a letter to Jim Wolfe, assistant secretary of the department’s International Aviation Branch, IASC chair Genevieve Butler requested input on the decision. It comes after Virgin last month wrote to the IASC saying there was effectively no reason for the capacity application to be blocked.
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The airline in December applied to the IASC to grant it 28 flights per week between Australia and Qatar using wet-leased 777-300ER aircraft from Qatar Airways, with tickets already on sale after receiving interim approval from the ACCC last year.
“In assessing the application, the IASC is required to apply certain criteria set out in the International Air Services Commission Policy Statement 2018. The IASC notes that Virgin Australia does not currently operate on the Australia-Qatar route,” wrote Butler.
“Consistent with section 28(e) of the International Air Services Commission Act 1992, the IASC would be grateful for advice from the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts as to whether it considers that Virgin Australia is reasonably capable of: a) obtaining the designation, licensing and operational approvals necessary to operate on and service the Qatar route; b) using the capacity sought; and c) that Virgin Australia’s planned operations are allowed under the Australia-Qatar bilateral air services arrangements.
“To assist the IASC in considering the matter before it, a response by 7 February 2025 would be appreciated.”
In a statement, a Department of Transport spokesperson told Australian Aviation: “The International Air Services Commission (IASC) regularly seeks information from the department on applications it receives for allocations of capacity.
“The department is currently finalising its response to the IASC in relation to its latest request.”
The application has been supported by organisations including the Australian Airports Association, Tourism and Events Queensland, and the Australian Travel Industry Association.
Fares are now on sale from Sydney, Brisbane and Perth to Doha starting June 2025, with Melbourne coming later in the year.
[email protected]
says:Clearly, the Govt is looking for any input from anyone in order to deny this request.