Qatar Airways Group will acquire a minority 25 per cent equity stake in Virgin Australia from equity firm Bain Capital adding new long-haul services between Australia and Doha, plus proposing refloating of the airline on the stock exchange.
Virgin was taken private after it was purchased out of administration by Bain Capital in 2020 for $3.5 billion.
Virgin says the stake – subject to regulatory approval – will offers a deeper strategic relationship and will drive increased competition in Australian aviation.
With the collapse of Bonza and Rex, Virgin says domestic competition in Australia is dependent on Virgin Australia thriving “through the inevitable ups and downs of aviation”.
Qatar Airways Group’s strategic investment will provide access to the critical scale and expertise of a world leading global airline.
“The minority stake also serves as a cornerstone investment ahead of an anticipated return of Virgin Australia into public ownership and the opportunity that would provide for Australians to share in Virgin Australia’s future,” Virgin said in a statement.
“The equity investment by Qatar Airways Group will unlock new areas of co-operation with Virgin Australia, all of which will help to drive additional consumer and economic benefits.”
Virgin said, subject to ACCC approval, the deal will enable Virgin Australia to launch flights from Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth and Sydney to Doha. The extra flights will open up more than 100 new connecting itineraries across Europe, the Middle East and Africa for Australian travellers.
Virgin Australia Group CEO Jayne Hrdlicka said that they were estimated to generate an economic benefit of AU$3bn to the Australian economy through incremental visitor flows over the next five years.
The proposed wet lease services will begin in mid-2025, allowing Virgin Australia to assess the longer-term merits and viability of wide-body aircraft flying while providing Australians with greater local competition for their long-haul travel needs in the near-term.
“This partnership brings the missing piece to Virgin Australia’s longer-term strategy and is a huge vote of confidence in Australian aviation,” Hrdlicka said.
“Importantly, it will further strengthen Virgin Australia’s ability to compete over the long term, which will inevitably translate into more choice and even better value airfares for consumers as well as additional Australian aviation jobs.
“Qatar Airways has been a valued codeshare partner of Virgin Australia since 2022. This investment by the world’s best airline will deepen an already strong partnership by bringing critical scale and the best industry expertise to support our long-term competitiveness and growth.
“This proposed investment is subject to regulatory approval. We do not take this for granted and have made submissions outlining the benefits of the transaction for Australian aviation, Australian travellers and the Australian economy.”
The expanded codeshare and collaboration arrangement will provide access to a greater range of international destinations with improved schedules and frequencies, increased earn and redemption opportunities for members of Velocity and Qatar Airways’ Privilege Club, and broader access to great value fares for leisure travellers, small and medium-sized enterprises, and corporate customers.
“We are really pleased to be announcing our proposed strategic investment in Virgin Australia today,” Qatar Airways Group CEO Eng. Badr Mohammed Al-Meer, said.
“The alignment of our two airlines is significant, the relationships are deep, and we could not be more proud to bring even more great value and choice to all Australians. The investment further demonstrates our strategic alignment with Virgin Australia and our collective ambition to deliver the best possible service and value to Australian passengers,” he said.
“Not only that, we believe competition in aviation is a good thing and it helps raise the bar, ultimately benefiting customers. This agreement will also help support Australian jobs, businesses and the wider economy.”
There will also be a focus on sustainability, including the development of Sustainable Aviation Fuel and exploring new opportunities with the new Western Sydney Airport.
Additional benefits will flow from increased freight capacity, supporting Australia’s high-value exports to markets such as the Middle East and Europe, Hrdlicka added.
“I am delighted that our closer relationship allows us to put our ‘toe in the water’ regarding long-haul international, as well as the ability to deepen other areas of existing cooperation, including between our respective loyalty programs and code sharing arrangements,” she said.
Hrdlicka noted that she was particularly excited by the potential to expand the two airlines’ relationship into new areas such as sustainability and development of the western Sydney aviation ecosystem, including broader jobs and training opportunities.
“Sustainable Aviation Fuel will play a critical role in aviation’s long-term decarbonisation effort. Virgin Australia has been an active participant in the Federal Government’s Jet Zero Council, and we expect our partnership with Qatar Airways to support SAF opportunities in a manner consistent with the Federal Government’s Future Made in Australia agenda,” she said.
“Both airlines are thrilled by the opportunity to work together more closely, which will bring significant benefits to Australian travellers and the economy.
“I am super proud of the entire team at Virgin Australia. Together they have done a wonderful job getting Virgin Australia back into a healthy, long term competitive position that has attracted the world’s best airline as a prospective investor. Every member of our team has contributed to this terrific outcome,” Hrdlicka said.
Bain Capital partner Mike Murphy said Virgin Australia plays a pivotal role in connecting Australians with each other, and with the world.
“Over the past four years, we’ve had the privilege of working alongside a team that has shown the dedication and tenacity needed to revitalise the airline. After a decade of losses resulting in administration, Virgin Australia has emerged as a strong and profitable company with an attractive market position, a loyal customer base, and a promising growth trajectory,” he said.
“We are pleased to welcome Qatar Airways Group as a partner at this stage to build on Virgin Australia’s strong foundation.”
Virgin Group and Queensland Investment Corporation (QIC) will retain shareholdings in Virgin Australia, about 5 per cent and 2 per cent respectively.
ATIA comment
The Australian Travel Industry Association (ATIA) says Qatar Airways’ investment in Virgin Australia, if approved, should mean more competition and connectivity for Australian passengers.
“This will ultimately mean more travel options and more competition in the air, which is positive news for travellers,” acting ATIA CEO Ingrid Fraser said.
“We expect the planes to take to the sky from mid-2025. While the Government must carry out the necessary checks, we urge them to do so expediently to ensure that any benefits of increased competition and connectivity are realised as soon as possible.
“Investments like this are a strong sign of confidence in the recovery and future growth of the Australian travel sector. It’s positive that this will provide Virgin Australia with a runway towards long-term sustainable ownership and an anticipated return to public listing.”
