Sunday, June 8, 2025
Virgin Australia is making a bold return to the long-haul market, shaking up the competitive Australia–Middle East flight routes. Starting June 12, 2025, the airline will resume operations in collaboration with Qatar Airways, launching daily flights from major Australian cities—Sydney, Brisbane, Perth, and Melbourne—to Doha. This strategic partnership allows Virgin to tap into Qatar Airways’ fleet while bypassing regulatory restrictions, marking a significant expansion for both airlines. The collaboration is expected to reshape the long-haul landscape and offer passengers more travel options, contributing to a rise in flight frequencies and enhanced connectivity between Australia and the Middle East.
Virgin Australia is set to shake up the flight landscape between Australia and the Middle East, with the airline re-entering the long-haul market in a big way. On June 12, 2025, Virgin Australia will officially resume long-haul operations in collaboration with Qatar Airways, marking its return to one of the world’s most competitive flight corridors.
Virgin Australia’s Re-Entry into the Long-Haul Market
For years, the Australia–Middle East route has been dominated by major players like Emirates, Etihad Airways, and Qatar Airways. However, Virgin Australia is now stepping back into the fray, launching daily flights from key Australian cities—Sydney, Brisbane, Perth, and Melbourne—to Doha, Qatar’s capital. The twist in this new venture? Virgin Australia will operate these routes using Qatar Airways’ Boeing 777-300ER aircraft and crew, effectively partnering with Qatar for these flights.
This collaboration comes as part of a larger strategic move by Virgin Australia to re-establish its presence on the global stage. The partnership sees Virgin leveraging Qatar Airways’ fleet, while the latter gains increased access to the Australian market without having to navigate the complexities of bilateral traffic rights restrictions. This arrangement gives Qatar Airways a clever workaround to the regulatory limits that typically restrict airlines from operating in certain territories.
Qatar Airways Gains Access to the Australia-Europe Market
One of the key benefits for Qatar Airways in this arrangement is that it allows the airline to bypass traffic rights restrictions that would normally limit its ability to expand on the Australia-Europe route. Virgin Australia is stepping in to fill this gap, offering Qatar Airways a backdoor to the Australia-Europe market. By operating on Qatar’s behalf, Virgin Australia is tapping into Australia’s unused bilateral rights, a move that significantly strengthens the bond between the two airlines.
Qatar Airways already holds a 25% stake in Virgin Australia, and this partnership only solidifies that relationship further. While Virgin takes care of the operational side, Qatar Airways gains a larger share of the Australian market and enhances its own European connections, all without the need for additional approvals. This strategy mirrors what Turkish Airlines did by using IndiGo to expand its influence in India—a move that has proven highly successful for both airlines involved.
The Flight Schedule: When You Can Expect Flights from Australia to Doha
Virgin Australia’s new partnership with Qatar Airways will see the launch of several new routes, giving passengers more flexibility and options when traveling between Australia and the Middle East. Here’s a quick look at the schedule for when each route will begin:
June 12, 2025 – Sydney to Doha (Daily, operated with Qatar Airways’ Boeing 777-300ER)
June 19, 2025 – Brisbane to Doha (Daily, operated with Qatar Airways’ Boeing 777-300ER)
June 26, 2025 – Perth to Doha (Daily, operated with Qatar Airways’ Boeing 777-300ER)
December 1, 2025 – Melbourne to Doha (Daily, operated with Qatar Airways’ Boeing 777-300ER)
These routes will operate under Virgin Australia’s branding but using Qatar Airways’ aircraft and crew. It’s a unique combination that allows both airlines to benefit from this transcontinental partnership.
Virgin Australia’s Return to the Middle East Market
This marks Virgin Australia’s return to the Middle East after a brief hiatus. The airline previously operated flights to Abu Dhabi from 2011 to 2017, as part of a partnership with Etihad Airways. However, after the dissolution of that partnership, Virgin Australia had been absent from the Middle East for several years. With Qatar Airways now on board, Virgin is ready to re-enter the market, but this time with a more strategic and collaborative approach.
By working with Qatar Airways, Virgin Australia aims to stay competitive while leveraging Qatar’s long-standing expertise in the region. The new partnership allows Virgin to rebuild its presence in the Middle East while giving Qatar Airways greater control over its Australian network, all in a single, mutually beneficial arrangement.
A Total of 10 Daily Flights Between Australia and Doha by Year-End
With the introduction of Virgin Australia’s new flights, the frequency of daily non-stop services between Australia and Doha will see a substantial increase. Qatar Airways already operates six daily flights between the two regions, but with Virgin Australia’s entry, this number will rise to a remarkable 10 daily flights by the end of 2025. Here’s how the schedule will unfold:
Until June 11, 2025: Qatar Airways operates six daily flights between Australia and Doha.
From June 12, 2025: Virgin Australia’s Sydney to Doha route will add one more, making it seven daily flights.
From June 19, 2025: The Brisbane route will increase the total to eight.
From June 26, 2025: Perth will bring the tally to nine daily flights.
From December 1, 2025: The Melbourne route will bring the total to an impressive 10 daily flights.
This substantial increase in daily services will put Qatar Airways and Virgin Australia on par with competitors like Emirates, which operates 11 daily flights between Australia and the Middle East, and Singapore Airlines, which runs 21 daily flights from Australia to Singapore.
Why This Partnership Matters
The return of Virgin Australia to the long-haul market marks an important milestone for the airline. After a long absence, Virgin’s reentry into the Australia–Middle East corridor is a powerful statement that it’s ready to compete on a global stage once again. With the rise in demand for European connections and growing airport capacity in key Australian cities, this is the perfect time for the airline to re-enter the fray.
Virgin Australia is set to make a strong return to the long-haul market, partnering with Qatar Airways to launch daily flights from Australia to Doha starting June 12, 2025. This move will significantly enhance connectivity between the two regions.
For passengers, the move means more options, increased competition, and potentially lower fares. For the airline industry, this is a reminder that even in a highly competitive space, new collaborations can still disrupt the status quo. As Virgin Australia and Qatar Airways combine forces, the two airlines are making it clear that they are not only back in business—they’re here to stay.
