Source : Perth Now news
Flights operated on behalf of Virgin Australia by Qatar Airways have been cancelled until at least mid-June over growing instability in the Middle East.
In 2025, Qatar Airways bought a 25 per cent stake in Virgin Australia, providing the Australian airline with aircraft and crew for flights to Doha.
This bypassed government restrictions on the number of flights Qatar Airways could operate under its own name.
The services, coded VA1 to VA22, have been available since mid last year, however it’s unclear when these services might return.
“Virgin Australia services operated by Qatar Airways remain impacted by the ongoing security situation in the Middle East,” a statement from Virgin Australia said.
Since the US-Israel war on Iran began on February 28, Qatar Airlines has been hit the hardest by airspace closures.
About 87 per cent of its services have been cancelled.
Virgin Australia has been offering refunds, credit or re-booking up to the end of October.
This applies to anyone booked on one of its VA-coded Qatar flights, now which have all cancelled until June 15.
After a period of significant grounding due to airspace closure, Qatar Arlines was only flying a fraction of its usual routes from to and from Australia.
There are flights to Sydney and Melbourne on alternating days and from Perth to Melbourne then onto Doha every other day.
Using safe air corridors from Doha meant the flights were longer and limited for travellers.
This follows a ‘Do Not Travel’ advisory issued by Smartraveller and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade for the United Arab Emirates and Qatar.
