Virgin Australia (VA) has paused its Qatar Airways (QR) secondment program as Australian pilots and cabin crew stationed in Doha reassess whether to remain in the Middle East or return home.
Virgin Australia
Qatar Airways has reduced its stake in Virgin Australia to 67.74%, adjusting its shareholding while remaining the airline’s largest investor.
Virgin Australia (VA) resumes direct flights between Sydney (SYD) and Darwin (DRW) from 22 June 2026.
Australia marked a new phase in long-haul connectivity on December 1, 2025, as Virgin Australia (VA) launched its fourth and final route to Doha (DOH).
Virgin Australia (VA) is an Australian full service carrier owned by British businessman Richard Branson, who also runs the United Kingdom based sister airline, Virgin Atlantic.
Virgin Australia (VA) passengers on Flight VA50 from Denpasar (DPS) to Brisbane (BNE) endured a six-hour ordeal when all onboard toilets failed mid-flight.
Qantas Airways (QF) has been cancelling flights at twice the rate of Virgin Australia (VA), according to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC).
Whether the goal is comfort, convenience, or connection, the middle seat offers more than its reputation suggests.
Koala Airlines is set to enter Australia’s aviation market in late 2026, positioning itself as a fresh alternative to existing carriers like Qantas (QF) and Virgin Australia (VA).
Skytrax has named 20 carriers as the best regional airlines in the world in 2025. Most of them operate short-haul domestic and international flights.