Virgin Australia Seeks More Qatar Flights to Challenge Emirates

by · Greek City Times

Virgin Australia is seeking to expand its partnership with Qatar Airways, aiming to secure more flights between Australia and Doha and strengthen competition with Emirates on key international routes.

The airline has applied for seven additional weekly flight frequencies between Australia and Qatar, increasing its allocation from 28 to 35 flights in each direction.

The proposed expansion would allow Virgin Australia to maintain twice-daily flights between Sydney and Doha while restoring daily services from Brisbane and Perth.

Read more: Qatar Airways Eyes Premium Economy and Expands Australia Flights

The application has been lodged with the International Air Services Commission, with Virgin seeking approval for the additional flight rights over a five-year period from June 26, 2027.

Virgin Australia said demand for international travel had continued to recover following disruptions caused by conflict in the Middle East and regional airspace closures in March 2026.

The airline expects its existing allocation of 28 weekly flights to be fully utilised again by December 10, 2026, when its Sydney to Doha service returns to twice-daily operations.

Qatar Airways partnership drives expansion

Virgin Australia’s Doha services operate using aircraft and crew supplied by Qatar Airways, which owns a 23 per cent stake in the Australian airline.

The partnership began in June 2025, with flights launched from Sydney, Brisbane and Perth before Melbourne joined the network in December 2025.

All Virgin Australia flights to Doha are operated using Qatar Airways Boeing 777-300ER aircraft, featuring the airline’s premium Qsuite business class and complimentary Starlink high-speed Wi-Fi.

Virgin Australia says the additional services would provide passengers with more travel options and improved connections through Doha to Europe, the Middle East, Africa and the Indian subcontinent.

The expansion is also expected to increase inbound tourism to Australia, provide additional cargo capacity for Australian exporters and strengthen competition in international aviation.

Qatar Airways expands its Australian network

The proposed Virgin Australia expansion comes as Qatar Airways continues to increase its presence across the Australian market.

On December 9, Qatar Airways is scheduled to resume daily flights to Canberra, operating through Melbourne using Boeing 777 aircraft.

The service will also introduce a second daily Melbourne to Doha flight, giving Victorian travellers additional flexibility when connecting to international destinations.

Qatar Airways is also preparing to expand its trans-Tasman operations from December 2026, while planning services to Western Sydney International Airport in 2027.

If approved, Virgin Australia’s expanded schedule would significantly strengthen the combined presence of the two airlines, creating a stronger competitor to Emirates across Australia’s international aviation market.

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