Qatar Airways targets more Australian flights by June 2025
The Gulf carrier wants to tap into the peak ‘northern summer’ travel period.
By David Flynn, October 29 2024
Qatar Airways intends to almost double its flights to Australia by the middle of 2025, unlocking greater choice for travellers headed to Europe and the UK for the northern summer.
And those flights could go on sale as soon as December, pending a tentative green light from the Australian government’s consumer watchdog.
The additional flights are a cornerstone of a ‘proposed integrated alliance’ between Qatar Airways and Virgin Australia, which would also see the Gulf carrier take a 25% stake in Virgin.
A timetable detailed in the airlines’ joint submission to the Australian Competition & Consumer Commission (ACCC) indicates how Qatar Airways would grow its Australian network.
From June 2025,
- Sydney would see two daily flights, up from the current one
- Melbourne would see three daily flights, up from the current two (one of which also flies to Adelaide)
- Brisbane would see two daily flights, up from the current one
Perth’s doubling to two daily flights would “follow in November 2025 due to limited availability of suitable widebody aircraft.”
It’s expected the new flights will rely heavily on Qatar Airways’ high-capacity Boeing 777 jets, which in turn will include free super-fast WiFi.
As previously reported, those flights will rely on Qatar Airways aircraft and crew leased to Virgin Australia and operating under a native VA flight number, although they will also carry a QR codeshare and for all intents and purposes be Qatar Airways flights.
The ACCC plans to issue an “interim authorisation” in November 2024, with a “draft determination” in January/February 2025 and a “final determination” in March 2025. Qantas has already indicated it will not oppose the Qatar-Virgin tie-up.
The additional flights between Australia and Qatar's Doha hub will be operated by Virgin Australia but rely on QR jets and crew.
Virgin and Qatar are pushing for the ACCC to make a favourable interim ruling “by the end of November 2024 to allow sufficient lead time for Virgin Australia to commence flying its new Australia–Doha services by June 2025.”
This includes the necessary runway "to sufficiently market and sell those services including having the appropriate supporting operational, technical and commercial structures in place.”
The airlines note “it is essential that the Applicants are able to include flights in the published schedule for the IATA Northern Summer Season.”
“The Applicants are expected to finalise their schedule for the IATA Northern Summer 2025 Season by December 2024, with forward selling to also commence by December 2024.”
“Passengers generally purchase long haul flights well in advance, so a minimum of 6 months is required before the launch of services to maximise marketing and sales opportunities and make those first flights financially sustainable.”
More flights for the mid-year travel season
The mid-2025 window of opportunity not only encompasses the high-demand “mid-June to mid-September peak travel periods” but also “key events like the commencement of the 2025 British and Irish Lions (rugby) tour” – for which Qatar Airways is the official airline partner – “which will see 40,000+ spectators visiting Australia for 9 games over 6 weeks in late June to early August 2025.”
Virgin argues that if it is forced to delay “the launch and forward selling” of these flights, “it will lose the opportunity to make the most of these high seasonal demand windows to attract customers.”
“If the Applicants cannot commence flying by June 2025, it would not be financially viable to launch the first flight until December 2025 to coincide with the high-demand mid-December to mid-January peak of 2025/2026.”
However, if June 2025 see a go-ahead for those new VA/QR flights, this will also see Virgin Australia cut back its long-standing partnerships with Etihad Airways and Singapore Airlines.
As previously reported by Executive Traveller, Etihad Airways would be removed from Virgin’s roster of partner airlines, while codeshare flights on Singapore Airlines would be restricted to Asia and India, while Qatar Airways would own the skies for VA across Europe, the UK and Africa.
Read more: Virgin’s Etihad, SQ partnerships hit by Qatar Airways deal
15 Dec 2021
Total posts 7
Also widely expected that QR will be launching a swathe of non-Doha routes out of Australia with VA wetleases.
SYD-JNB rumoured to be the first (Qr plane and crew) given that VA are ditching the SAA partnership. It makes sense, given that it would be unappealing for Aussies to go to Doha for transit to South Africa.
24 Aug 2011
Total posts 1206
Widely expected by only you it seems. No one else has joined your fantasy revenge crusade.
BTW, lots of people already go from Australia to South Africa via the Middle East hubs. In fact, may daughter went via AUH recently.
13 Sep 2013
Total posts 116
Is this just you creating a rumour?
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
04 Nov 2017
Total posts 345
Not to mention Michael Sainsbury over at Crikey isn't exactly a reliable source and has been known to made stuff up!
26 Sep 2023
Total posts 32
Last time you tried floating this you said it was LAX, now its JNB?
I heard that QR are going to wet lease to VA 30 A351s so that they can start non-stop BNE-JFK and ADL-CDG to show QF how they are too SYD-centric!!111!!! Totally true!!!11!!
03 May 2013
Total posts 680
Wont be going anywhere near Qatar if they use 777's out of Sydney for the extra flight. Not sitting on that 14 hours only to arrive jetlagged, dehydrated and deafened. Those ultra long haul routes need to be carried out by next gen aircraft such as the A350 and B787. Of course the A380 is unsurpassed on those routes.
Etihad - Etihad Guest
21 Jul 2019
Total posts 189
It's the infernal noise of the 777 that gets me more than anything. Not Qatar's fault, but I'd avoid QR and very other airline that flies a 777 longhaul. Did it once (on SQ to London) and have avoided that beast of a plane ever since.
Qatar Privilage Club
31 Mar 2023
Total posts 10
That's why a good pair of noise cancelling headphones are a must, not just on the 777's but any aircraft.
Jetstar Airways - Qantas Frequent Flyer
03 Jul 2018
Total posts 50
Sometimes a background noise can be a blessing if there is a crying baby nearby.
12 Dec 2012
Total posts 1030
I've never understood this complaint about the noise of 777s. The noise of a 777 seems no different to the noise of any other large get aircraft.
QF
11 Jul 2014
Total posts 1004
I need to be booking flights now to capture the associated accommodation etc or I'll be paying a higher price, and those airline tickets have to compete with Turkish Airlines and Singapore Airlines. Imagine a couple of larger planes other than 737's working some routes?
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
24 Jan 2018
Total posts 761
Maybe transferring VFF points to KrisFlyer too?
05 Jun 2023
Total posts 1
When would the flights be available to book if June 2025 is given the ok?
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
12 May 2022
Total posts 15
I would imagine the flights to go on sale by the end of December.
Undoubtedly, all the flight entry details would already be entered; they would just need to hit the go live button once given the green light.
05 Mar 2015
Total posts 418
Second paragraph: "And those flights could go on sale as soon as December, pending a tentative green light from the Australian government’s consumer watchdog."
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
24 Jan 2018
Total posts 761
I wonder if flights on Singapore Airlines to Turkish airports on the Eastern side of the Bosphorus (e.g. SAW, AYT and ESB) will qualify as being within 'Asia')?
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
04 Nov 2017
Total posts 345
I'd tip those may pass as Europe considering they're on the border, and I think the application also mentioned Turkey as one of QR's 'exclusivity' areas.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
05 Oct 2016
Total posts 113
Need to know whether the VA flights with QR tags would still give QF SCs and points!
13 Sep 2022
Total posts 11
It doesn't make sense that both Sydney and Brisbane will both be double daily, whilst MEL is 3x daily, given Sydney is much larger than BNE. What would make sense would BNE be 2x daily 77W, whilst SYD would go 2x daily A388. This could work as Qatar is pulling the A388 from Paris at the end of March, freeing up an A388. MEL would likely be 3x daily 77W.
05 Mar 2015
Total posts 418
Might not make sense to you but obviously makes sense to QR. Also pulling an A380 from Paris isn't relevant to any Australian route because QR can do a daily A380 DOH-PAR easily given this is a 6h20m flight so only one A380 is needed, but for any AU route given the flights would be more like 14h you would need more like three A380s to be daily.
22 Sep 2017
Total posts 93
My guess is they will run another one to WSA when it opens.
05 Mar 2015
Total posts 418
I have no doubt that QR will fly to Western Sydney when it opens, but I can't see it being an A380, the airline doesn't have enough of them to go around and is also trying to get rid of them, so by the time WSI opens at the end of 2026 I think WSI-DOH is more likely to see an A350.
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
24 Jan 2018
Total posts 761
As long as the QR A350 has a bar, I'm fine with that.
20 Oct 2015
Total posts 245
It doesn't.
01 Oct 2021
Total posts 20
My guess is A350-1000 will be used for the second Sydney flight as QR906/907 (VA flight number) as it was pre-Covid. Brisbane will have 2x 777W, Melbourne will be a mix of 777W and A350-1000 considering it will have 3 flights a day.
For the Melbourne flights, 3 daily will be a huge boost seeing its competitor Emirates will be axing the Singapore flights, that will leave Melbourne to just 2x daily Emirates and Etihad will have just the 1x daily retimed flights.
Regarding Qatar’s A380 flights to Australia. It’s possible we could get 2x daily A380 for Sydney or even a daily A380 to Melbourne especially if Qatar decides to add a second Perth flight. They’ll most likely remove the A380 from Perth and use them elsewhere in Australia.
Etihad Airways did this with their Melbourne flights pre-Covid. They removed the A380 on one of the two flights to Melbourne and doubled it to Sydney. Sydney had 2x daily A380.
Let’s see what happens in 2025 for Etihad, Emirates and Qatar regarding the Australian operations. Me personally, I’d love that Etihad A380 back in Oz!
Qatar Privilage Club
31 Mar 2023
Total posts 10
Other than highlight the worst behaviors in Qantas Qatar do have a lot to answer for.
The Good - Modern Aircraft, Q Suites (on some flights) in business class, Great Airport and lounges in Doha. Sometimes (not always) good service. Gourmet dining in business class. Flight frequency.
The Bad - The worst customer call centers ever and no call center in Australia. Over pricing, Qatar have done nothing to help the Australian travelling public with their high prices and price gouging which is keeping industry prices high across the board. Constant last minute change of aircraft, you think you are flying in a Q Suite cabin and at the last minute the aircraft is downgraded to an old slopy sleeper. It's almost impossible to book business class when making an award booking even a year in advance. Way too much cheap labor from the Indian sub continent, if I wanted to fly Air Indian I would book Air India. Often awful lounges at ports away from Doha not living up to expectations.
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
24 Jan 2018
Total posts 761
Thanks, facts matter. Clearly QR has a bit of a "To Do" list, given Australian flyers have high expectations and won't suffer poor standards any longer.
Qatar Privilage Club
31 Mar 2023
Total posts 10
If you are paying overs Qatar should then deliver on what they promote.
22 Sep 2017
Total posts 93
Of course Qantas won't oppose becoming the only option for domestic connections to flights to/from Europe (for all international carriers except QR).
28 Sep 2022
Total posts 23
I really hope they fly the A350-1000s here, Australians deserve it.
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
24 Jan 2018
Total posts 761
Whilst obviously this alliance is still a W-I-P until the ACCC gives its blessing and splashes the 'Holy Water' on the deal, one of the first things I'll need to see is exactly how a hitherto loyal VFF member with, say, a million VFF points, can secure reward flight seats on QR with minimal fuss and bother. (Mike, Jayne and Nick - if those words "fuss and bother" aren't familiar to you in context of loyalty programs, get help - quickly).
When it comes to securing reward seats on QR metal, will we book via the Virgin portal using VFF points, or are we better off converting VFF points into QR currency (Avios or Qcredits?) and booking via the QR portal (as is presently the easier way to secure preferred flights in SQ metal). I suspect VA will need to choose between having this outcome dominated by its bean counters, or whether someone at Southbank takes a broader view to exploit the current vulnerability of its primary competitor. To merely rely upon a comparable or superior inflight experience (i.e. QR plane and cabin staff) is no use if the pax don't get into the seats to see it for themselves.
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