Virgin Australia to Operate Long-Haul Flights With Qatar Jet

Get ready for a major shake-up on the Australia–Middle East flight map. Starting June 12, Virgin Australia is officially entering the long-haul game again, this time in partnership with Qatar Airways.

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While Emirates, Etihad Airways, and Qatar Airways have long dominated the skies between Australia and the Gulf, Virgin Australia is now jumping back in. The airline will operate daily flights from Sydney, Brisbane, Perth, and Melbourne to Doha, but here’s the twist: it’s doing so using Qatar Airways’ Boeing 777-300ERs and crew.

A Backdoor Entry for Qatar Airways

This move gives Qatar Airways a clever backdoor into the competitive Australia–Europe long-haul market, bypassing bilateral traffic rights restrictions. Virgin Australia is tapping into Australia’s unused rights for Qatar and flying on the Qatari carrier’s behalf.

Qatar Airways already owns 25% of Virgin Australia, and this new setup strengthens that partnership even more. Virgin will handle the flights, while Qatar gains a bigger slice of the market without needing extra approvals, similar to how Turkish Airlines used IndiGo to expand into India.

Flight Schedule From Australia to Doha

Here's a quick look at when each route kicks off:

• June 12 – Sydney to Doha (Daily, 777-300ER)
• June 19 – Brisbane to Doha (Daily, 777-300ER)
• June 26 – Perth to Doha (Daily, 777-300ER)
• December 1 – Melbourne to Doha (Daily, 777-300ER)

All four routes will be operated using Qatar Airways’ aircraft and staff, with Virgin codeshare and branding.

From Abu Dhabi to Doha: Virgin’s Middle East Return

This isn’t Virgin’s first Middle East adventure. The airline previously flew to Abu Dhabi from 2011 to 2017 under a partnership with Etihad Airways, even with Etihad owning a stake in the airline at one point. That relationship officially ended on June 1, 2025.

Now, with Etihad out and Qatar Airways in, Virgin’s second chapter in the Middle East begins and this time, the strategy is all about smart collaboration to stay competitive.

Up to 10 Daily Flights Between Australia and Doha

Virgin Australia’s new services will add to Qatar Airways’ existing Australia routes, bringing their combined total to 10 daily nonstops by the end of the year, a record.

Here’s how it builds up:

• Until June 11: Qatar operates six daily flights
• From June 12: Virgin’s Sydney route boosts it to seven
• From June 19: Brisbane makes it eight
• From June 26: Perth takes it to nine
• From December 1: Melbourne brings it to 10

That’s serious firepower aimed squarely at rivals like Emirates (11 daily Australia flights) and Singapore Airlines (21 daily flights to Australia).

Why It Matters

This move reintroduces Virgin Australia to the long-haul game after years of absence and gives Qatar Airways a clever way to grow in a tight market. With expanding airport capacity in Sydney, Brisbane, Perth, and Melbourne and rising demand for Europe-bound connections, the timing is perfect.

For passengers, this means more flight options, more competition, and potentially better fares. For airlines like Emirates and Singapore Airlines, it’s a clear message: Virgin and Qatar are here to play.