iscover
Virgin Australia has officially applied for 28 wet-leased services per week to Doha, with Melbourne to be the last major airport to see the flights.
The carrier has lodged an application with the International Air Services Commission (IASC) to launch the first three routes in June 2025 using Qatar Airways’ Boeing 777-300ER aircraft configured with between 354 and 412 seats.
This content is available exclusively to Australian Aviation members.
A monthly membership is only $5.99 or save with our annual plans.
- Australian Aviation quarterly print & digital magazines
- Access to In Focus reports every month on our website
- Unlimited access to all Australian Aviation digital content
- Access to the Australian Aviation app
- Australian Aviation quarterly print & digital magazines
- Access to In Focus reports every month on our website
- Access to our Behind the Lens photo galleries and other exclusive content
- Daily news updates via our email bulletin
- Unlimited access to all Australian Aviation digital content
- Access to the Australian Aviation app
- Australian Aviation quarterly print & digital magazines
- Access to In Focus reports every month on our website
- Access to our Behind the Lens photo galleries and other exclusive content
- Daily news updates via our email bulletin
Under the application, Virgin’s Doha flights from Sydney, Brisbane and Perth would commence in June 2025, with Melbourne services to come in December; this is despite the ACCC indicating in its interim approval for ticket sales that Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne services would commence in June and Perth in November.
Virgin says it has looked at supply and demand considerations in its decision to switch Perth and Melbourne in its schedule, to better align with where travellers are in most urgent need of the new services.
In the application, Virgin Australia CEO Jayne Hrdlicka noted that no Australian airline has ever operated passenger services to Qatar.
“Qantas only markets services to the Middle East via its codeshare with Emirates and does not operate its own services,” Hrdlicka wrote.
“Without Virgin Australia operating these services under the wet lease arrangement with Qatar Airways, the available capacity on the Australia-Qatar route would remain unutilised to the detriment of consumers, competition, Australian tourism and Australian trade.
“We expect other significant public benefits to result from our ability to make these services available, including: downward pressure on airfares because of increased capacity, direct economic benefits of around ~ $3 billion over the next 5 years, as well as enhanced services, more choice and increased competition in international travel to and from Australia.
“This will benefit Australian passengers, inbound tourists and the tourism sector, importers, and exporters.”
Hrdlicka also confirmed that Virgin has secured the necessary slots at Sydney, Brisbane, Perth and Doha to begin the June services.
“We have already been designated as an Australian airline by the Australian Government (through the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communication and the Arts (DITRCA)) under the relevant air services agreement, and received confirmation from DITRCA that nothing further is needed in this respect.”
The ACCC has not yet made a final decision on the arrangements, with a draft determination expected to be released in February. Submissions to the IASC are open until 17 December.
