The pending wet lease agreement will see new flights between Australia and Doha starting June 2025. Qatar Airways (QA) and Virgin Australia (VA) have reportedly received interim approval from

Australia's competition watchdog said on Friday it had given Virgin Australia IPO-VIR.AX and Qatar Airways interim approval to operate flights between Doha and Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth and Sydney under an integrated alliance.

Virgin Australia is edging closer to resuming long-haul international flights, although it will be with Qatar Airways aircraft and crews.

The ACCC says the new services will be offered subject to final regulatory approval. However, its interim authorisation usually results in a final authorisation, which would be valid for five years. Qatar's proposed investment in Virgin also remains subject to approval from Australia's Foreign Investment Review Board.

The Gulf carrier will almost double its flights to Australia in mid-2025 to ride the peak ‘northern summer’ travel wave.

The competition watchdog will allow Virgin to start selling tickets on Qatar Airways-operated flights to Doha, but has warned the closer partnership between the airlines remains subject to final approval by the regulator and the Foreign Investment Review Board overseen by federal Treasurer Jim Chalmers.

The approval allows Virgin Australia to market and sell 28 weekly scheduled return flights between Doha and Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth, and Sydney

ACCC has given temporary authorisation to Virgin Australia and Qatar Airways to engage in cooperative conduct under an integrated alliance.

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has granted interim approval for a partnership between Qatar Airways and Virgin Australia, which allows them to sell long-haul return flights starting in June 2025.