Virgin Australia returning to Middle East

[newscaster]

Aero routes has reported VA starting daily service to new destination Doha with a Qatar 77W and QR code sharing, I guess it will wear VA livery, flights are from Melbourne effective 1st December 25.

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[SealinkBF]

Originally Posted by newscaster

Aero routes has reported VA starting daily service to new destination Doha with a Qatar 77W and QR code sharing, I guess it will wear VA livery, flights are from Melbourne effective 1st December 25.

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Odd given QR's OneWorld membership and shareholding in IAG.

Mind you, I earned BA Executive Club and Tier Points on an Emirates flight! (QF codeshare!)

[Newhairdo]

Originally Posted by newscaster

Aero routes has reported VA starting daily service to new destination Doha with a Qatar 77W and QR code sharing, I guess it will wear VA livery, flights are from Melbourne effective 1st December 25.

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These flights will have VA flight numbers but are to be operated by QR B777, with QR pilots and cabin crew.
They will remain in the Qatar livery.
Flights commence Northern Summer 2025. Melbourne starts in Northern Winter.

[Sotonsean]

Originally Posted by Newhairdo

These flights will have VA flight numbers but are to be operated by QR B777, with QR pilots and cabin crew.
They will remain in the Qatar livery.
Flights commence Northern Summer 2025. Melbourne starts in Northern Winter.

This situation with VA is just a way for QR to offer more flights to Australia as their current quota of flights have reached their limit.

I read an article online a few weeks ago where the Australian unions were not happy with the situation. It's obviously been resolved in one way or another for the flights to proceed.

But it's a strange situation to say the least. It's just a way for QR to increase frequencies to Australia with no incremental cost to VA.

[Newhairdo]

Originally Posted by Sotonsean

This situation with VA is just a way for QR to offer more flights to Australia as their current quota of flights have reached their limit.

I read an article online a few weeks ago where the Australian unions were not happy with the situation. It's obviously been resolved in one way or another for the flights to proceed.

But it's a strange situation to say the least. It's just a way for QR to increase frequencies to Australia with no incremental cost to VA.

Thats exactly it.
When the Aussie government refused to grant QR additional slots, allegedly under pressure from QF, this was QRs way of flicking 2 fingers at Albo and King.
Whichever way you dress this up, it’s a way for QR to operate those extra flights.