QATAR Airways Cargo looks to strengthen trade connections and expand its capacity to and from Australia through its new partnership with Virgin Australia.
One of the world’s largest air cargo carriers, Qatar Airways currently offers over 240 tonnes of cargo capacity each way, each week into the key Australian cities of Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane and Perth, but with the addition of Virgin Australia’s flights, Qatar says total cargo capacity will increase to more than 400 tonnes.
Starting in June, Virgin Australia will operate daily Boeing 777 flights between Sydney, Brisbane, Perth, and Doha, Qatar, with 129 tonnes of cargo capacity each way between Doha and Perth, 30 tonnes each way for Brisbane, and 21 tonnes each way for Sydney, with the widebody belly-hold services expected to bring substantial uplift potential.
Effective in December, Virgin Australia will also add daily Boeing 777 flights from Melbourne with Qatar Airways.
Mark Drusch, chief officer cargo at Qatar Airways Cargo said, “Australia plays a pivotal role in global trade, and it is essential for us to empower its exporters with the best possible connectivity”.
“Our proven expertise in safeguarding sensitive shipments such as perishables and pharmaceuticals positions us as the trusted partner for Australia's trade ambitions,” he said.
“This partnership with Virgin Australia significantly increases capacity available to Perth, Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne — a major improvement in global cargo capacity for exporters.
“The addition of Virgin Australia’s Boeing 777s more than doubles the airfreight capacity on key routes.
Mr Drusch described the move as bold, and reinforcing Qatar Airways Cargo’s leadership in connecting Australia’s economy to world markets.
“With these new services, we are responding decisively to long-standing market demands,” he added.
Head of cargo at Virgin Australia, Dimitris Politis added, “We're thrilled to partner with Qatar Airways Cargo, combining our strong domestic network with their global reach”.
“This collaboration delivers significant new capacity for Australian exporters and strengthens our ability to connect Australian businesses with international markets.”
With two-way trade between Qatar and Australia surpassing AUD 3.4 billion annually, Qatar ranks amongst Australia’s top trading partners in the Middle East and North Africa region.
According to Qatar Airways, one in every 14 air cargo shipments from Australia is entrusted to Qatar Airways Cargo, passing through its Doha hub en-route to the Middle East, Europe, and the Americas.
In December 2024, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) granted interim authorisation allowing the airlines to engage in cooperative conduct under an integrated alliance.
At the time, the ACCC said Qatar Airways and Virgin Australia had sought authorisation of the partnership, tipped to boost cargo capacity and export opportunities, for five years.