The Australian Competition & Consumer Commission (ACCC) has given temporary authorisation to Virgin Australia and Qatar Airways to engage in cooperative conduct under an integrated alliance.
Under the interim authorisation, released on November 29, 2024, Virgin Australia and Qatar Airways can start promoting and selling 28 weekly round-trip flights between Doha and Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth and Sydney.
The airlines requested temporary approval for Virgin Australia to begin its new flights from Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane to Doha in June 2025, with services from Perth starting in November 2025.
”We consider that granting interim authorisation now will allow Qatar Airways and Virgin Australia the lead time to undertake the necessary planning discussions, marketing, selling and system alignment in preparation for Virgin Australia to commence flying the new services by June 2025,” said Mick Keogh, ACCC Deputy Chair.
According to the agreement made by the ACCC, if the final regulatory approval is not given, customers who have reserved these new services will nevertheless be protected.
“Affected customers will be given the option of a refund or re-accommodation on a suitable alternative flight at no additional charge and would not be out of pocket for any reasonably foreseeable costs if these proposed new services ultimately don’t get approved,” Keogh added.
Under the proposed arrangements, Virgin Australia would use Qatar Airways aircraft and crew to operate the new services. This is known in the aviation industry as ‘wet leasing.’
Qatar Airways and Virgin Australia have requested a five-year permission period. However, the ACCC has not yet reached any conclusions on the authorization application and is expected to issue a draft decision in February 2025.
