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The Department of Transport has advised Virgin’s wet lease with Qatar Airways would be allowed under current regulations.
In response to a letter from the International Air Services Commission (IASC), Jim Wolfe, assistant secretary of the department’s International Aviation Branch, said the proposed 28 weekly flights to Doha would be permitted according to the terms of bilateral air services agreements with Qatar.
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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.
Wolfe noted that Virgin “is currently designated as an Australian international airline under the Australia-Qatar Air Services Agreement and holds an International Airline Licence, which allows for operations between Australia and Qatar”.
“Under the current air services arrangements, designated airlines of Australia may operate services using leased aircraft (dry-leasing) or leased aircraft and crew (wet-leasing), provided the operating aircraft and crew comply with all operational standards and requirements, including on aviation safety and security,” he wrote in response to the request by IASC chair Genevieve Butler.
“In addition, the air services arrangements allow designated airlines to enter into code-share arrangements as both the marketing or operating airline, with airlines of Australia, Qatar or a third country.
“It is important that airlines involved in code-sharing arrangements make is clear to the traveller at the point of sale, which airline will actually operate each sector of the service and which airline the traveller is entering into a contractual relationship with.
“Based on the information provided, Virgin Australia’s proposed operations are allowed under the Australia-Qatar bilateral air services arrangements.”
If the IASC approves the Doha flights, Virgin would also need to obtain timetable approval from the Department under the Air Navigation Regulation 2016.
“The Department will only approve an Australian airline’s timetable application if they hold an allocation of capacity from the IASC and they meet Australia’s aviation safety and security requirements,” Wolfe said.
Virgin’s application has been supported by organisations including the Australian Airports Association, Tourism and Events Queensland, and the Australian Travel Industry Association. The airline last month wrote to the IASC saying there was effectively no reason for the capacity application to be blocked.
Fares are now on sale from Sydney, Brisbane and Perth to Doha starting June 2025, with Melbourne coming later in the year.
