The Australian Government has officially approved Qatar Airways Group’s acquisition of Virgin Australia's 25% minority stake.
Virgin Australia is set to launch long-haul flights to Doha starting in June, that will further strengthen the connection between the two airlines, according to Qatar Airways' press-release.
Virgin Australia now awaits a decision from the International Air Services Commission (IASC) on what is an uncontested allocation of air rights for services between Australia and Qatar, due to commence in June.
Equity investment
Qatar Airways Group’s 25 per cent stake will provide Virgin Australia with access to the scale and expertise of a world-leading global airline, strengthening its ability to compete domestically and internationally and driving increased competition in Australian aviation.
Bain Capital, Virgin Group, and Queensland Investment Corporation will retain shareholdings in Virgin Australia.
Long-haul flying and integrated alliance
Subject to IASC approval, Virgin Australia will return to long-haul flying in June 2025, with flights from Sydney, Brisbane, and Perth to Doha. Flights from Melbourne to Doha are scheduled to commence in December 2025.
These flights will be operated utilising aircraft wet-leased from Qatar Airways. As well as enhancing competition and placing downward pressure on international airfares, these flights will provide a significant boost to the Australian visitor economy, including the tourism sector, generating an estimated $3 billion in economic value over the next five years.
“ Today we welcome a new era for Virgin Australia. Qatar Airways’ investment is a huge vote of confidence in our business and Australian aviation more broadly. It sets us up for long-term success and adds fuel to our bold transformation agenda," - said Virgin Australia Group Chief Executive Officer, Ms. Jayne Hrdlika. She noted this partnership will be beneficial for Australian consumers travelling to Europe, the Middle East and Africa.
"Being backed by one of the world’s largest airlines now gives us the scale and access to industry expertise which will support continued growth in line with the market domestically, improve our ability to compete for key segments of the market and add momentum to our margin ambitions,"- she added.
Australia has activated income support for workers affected by ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred, which caused severe flooding, power outages, and damage. Workers whose income drops below the average weekly wage can receive up to 13 weeks of financial assistance.
Australia’s east coast is under high alert as Tropical Cyclone Alfred strengthens, moving towards Brisbane, the country’s third-largest city. Authorities have issued severe weather warnings covering more than 500 kilometers (311 miles) across Queensland and New South Wales,
The Australian and New Zealand governments announced new sanctions against Russia on February 24, demonstrating solidarity with Ukraine. Both countries have introduced the most extensive package of sanctions since the beginning of the Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
Australia's eSafety Commission fined messaging platform Telegram about A$1 million for its delay in providing information on measures to prevent child abuse and violent extremist content, the regulator announced on Monday.
A new national forest stretching from the Cotswolds to the Mendips is set to be created, the UK government has announced. 20 million trees set to be planted across the West of England in the coming decades, creating at least 2,500 hectares of new woodland.
Hong Kong's iconic landmarks dimmed their lights on Saturday evening for Earth Hour, joining a global movement to raise awareness about climate change and promote energy conservation. The city's participation in the annual event highlighted the growing commitment to sustainability and environmental
Rwanda-backed M23 rebels have announced plans to reposition their forces from the town of Walikale, which they seized earlier this week, in an effort to support broader initiatives aimed at addressing the ongoing conflict in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.
UNICEF on Saturday urged the interim Taliban-led administration in Afghanistan to lift the ban on girls' secondary education as the new school year begins without girls for a third consecutive year.
Pope Francis will make his first public appearance in five weeks on Sunday, offering a blessing from his hospital window as he recovers from double pneumonia.
NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams completed an unexpectedly long 286-day mission on the ISS, returning to Earth aboard a SpaceX capsule after delays caused by technical issues with Boeing’s Starliner.
In a groundbreaking study published in Cell on January 18, Chinese researchers have unveiled a novel cancer treatment that ingeniously disguises tumors as pig tissue, triggering the body’s immune system to mount a hyperacute rejection response against the cancer cells.
Sweden’s Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson stated on Thursday that purchasing U.S. weapons does not pose a security risk for his country, but emphasized the need for Europe to reduce its reliance on American defense systems. His comments come amid growing discussions within Europe.
Russian President Vladimir Putin agreed on Tuesday to a proposal by U.S. President Donald Trump that Russia and Ukraine cease attacking each other's energy infrastructure for 30 days, the Kremlin said following a lengthy phone discussion between the leaders.
On March 16, at around 09:45, Armenian armed forces opened fire on Azerbaijani positions located in the direction of the Digh settlement in the Goris region, using firearms, according to Azerbaijan's Ministry of Defence.
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has removed all business blog posts dating from President Joe Biden’s term from its online publication, erasing more than 300 entries that once offered companies guidance on complying with consumer-protection regulations.
The Federal Reserve is widely expected to keep interest rates unchanged at Wednesday’s meeting.
In a flurry of negotiations following President Donald Trump’s inauguration, Google has significantly accelerated its acquisition of Israeli cybersecurity firm Wiz, elevating its offer from an initial $23 billion to a whopping $32 billion—one of the largest tech deals in history.
In a significant move amid the global race for artificial intelligence dominance, Nvidia and Elon Musk’s xAI have joined a consortium backed by Microsoft and BlackRock to expand AI infrastructure across the United States.
A new national forest stretching from the Cotswolds to the Mendips is set to be created, the UK government has announced. 20 million trees set to be planted across the West of England in the coming decades, creating at least 2,500 hectares of new woodland.
Hong Kong's iconic landmarks dimmed their lights on Saturday evening for Earth Hour, joining a global movement to raise awareness about climate change and promote energy conservation. The city's participation in the annual event highlighted the growing commitment to sustainability and environmental
Rwanda-backed M23 rebels have announced plans to reposition their forces from the town of Walikale, which they seized earlier this week, in an effort to support broader initiatives aimed at addressing the ongoing conflict in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.
UNICEF on Saturday urged the interim Taliban-led administration in Afghanistan to lift the ban on girls' secondary education as the new school year begins without girls for a third consecutive year.
Pope Francis will make his first public appearance in five weeks on Sunday, offering a blessing from his hospital window as he recovers from double pneumonia.
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