Qatar Airways has entered into a new strategic partnership with Virgin Australia.
The agreement will allow Qatar Airways’ passengers to travel seamlessly to 35 destinations on Virgin Australia’s domestic network, including key popular Australian tourist destinations, including Cairns, Gold Coast, Alice Springs and Broome, on a single booking.
Qatar Airways passengers will also have access to Virgin Australia’s recently relaunched short-haul international markets, including Fiji and Queenstown, New Zealand.
Similarly, Virgin Australia customers and members of the airline’s Velocity Frequent Flyer loyalty programme will be able to directly across Qatar Airways’ route network of over 140 worldwide destinations, including the Middle East, Europe and Africa, via the airline’s hub and Hamad International in Doha.
Qatar Airways currently operates daily flights into Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, and Perth as well as three weekly flights into Adelaide continuing into Auckland, New Zealand.
The airline also serves 54 cities in Europe with over 600 flights per week. Qatar Airways passengers can also book flights through the Virgin Australia network through www.qatarairways.com.
Customers will enjoy reciprocal loyalty benefits allowing Qatar Airways Privilege Club members to earn and redeem Avios when flying on Virgin Australia, with similar benefits for Velocity members when travelling on Qatar Airways’ services.
Other benefits include complimentary lounge access, complimentary extra baggage allowance, priority check-in, priority boarding and priority baggage delivery when flying respectively on Virgin Australia and Qatar Airways.
Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, His Excellency Mr. Akbar Al Baker said: “We have a strong, long-standing relationship with Australia and this agreement with Virgin Australia comes at a time when it is needed the most.
“This partnership will give Australian passengers access to the world that they have so acutely missed these past two years, to be able to reconnect with family and friends and keep the wheels of trade moving.
“We hope many of them will stopover in Doha to enjoy the wonderful tourism industry that Qatar has to offer.
“For those travelling farther afield, they will benefit from the award-winning facilities of our hub, Hamad International Airport, enabling their onward journey.
“It also opens up the beautiful, cosmopolitan nation of Australia to our passengers flying in on Qatar Airways flights, after such a long, difficult time.”
Virgin Australia Group Chief Executive Officer Jayne Hrdlicka said: “Today is more great news for Virgin Australia and Velocity Frequent Flyer members who are hungry to travel internationally.
“We are incredibly focused on creating great travel experiences and our new partnership with Qatar Airways will significantly expand Virgin Australia’s footprint into the Middle East, Europe and Africa, offering hundreds more ways our guests can seamlessly see the world.
“Virgin Australia and Qatar Airways are both known for their award-winning service and joining forces mean that together we are able to provide an incredible experience when travelling between Australia, the Middle East, Europe, Africa and beyond.
“Qatar Airways has been a very important partner to Australia during the pandemic, maintaining vital connectivity to the world in difficult circumstances.
“We are proud to have Qatar Airways join the Virgin Australia family and we look forward to welcoming their guests onboard Virgin Australia services mid-year.”
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