Virgin Australia Launches Fourth Boeing 777 Route with Qatar Airways Planes
Virgin Australia has officially launched its fourth route to Doha, starting on December 1, 2023. This route connects Melbourne to the Middle East and coincides with the summer season and holiday travel period in Australia. The new Melbourne-Doha service complements existing flights from Brisbane, Perth, and Sydney that commenced in June 2023.
Overview of Virgin Australia’s Doha Route
The addition of the Melbourne route brings Virgin Australia’s total to four daily flights to Doha. The long-distance route covers approximately 6,453 nautical miles (11,951 km) each way, with a flight time of up to 14 hours and 15 minutes.
- Flight Frequency: Daily
- Aircraft: Boeing 777-300ER
- Seat Configuration: Two-class, 354 seats
Schedule Details
Virgin Australia’s flights arrive in Doha shortly before midnight, aligning with Qatar Airways’ services to facilitate onward connections to Europe and the Middle East. The schedule is as follows:
| From | To | Departure Time | Arrival Time | Flight Duration |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Melbourne | Doha | 1:50 AM | 11:20 PM | 13h 30m |
| Doha | Melbourne | 4:10 PM | 10:25 PM | 14h 15m |
Qatar Airways operates a triple daily service between Doha and Melbourne, facilitating efficient connections for passengers traveling from various destinations, including popular European cities like London, Barcelona, and Berlin.
Strategic Partnership with Qatar Airways
Virgin Australia is leveraging its partnership with Qatar Airways, which has reached its limit on traffic rights. By using Qatar’s Boeing 777-300ER aircraft and crew, Virgin aims to enhance its market presence in the region and increase capacity.
Significance of Connectivity
The recent scheduling adjustments allow Virgin Australia to offer better connectivity to major cities while expanding Qatar Airways’ market share without directly increasing flights to Australia. The extension from Doha to Canberra, launching December 1, 2023, replaces the previous service to Adelaide, enabling Qatar to continue growing its operations in Australia.
In summary, Virgin Australia’s new Melbourne-Doha route expands travel options for passengers while strengthening collaborations with Qatar Airways. The airlines are positioned to offer competitive services in the growing Australia-Middle East travel market.
