The approval allows Virgin Australia to sell 28 weekly scheduled return flights between Qatar and Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth, and Sydney.

Australia's competition watchdog said on Friday it had given its interim approval for Virgin Australia [IPO-VIR.AX] to start selling Qatar Airways-operated flights between Doha and four capital cities in Australia.

The ACCC says the new services will be offered subject to final regulatory approval. However, its interim authorisation usually results in a final authorisation, which would be valid for five years. Qatar's proposed investment in Virgin also remains subject to approval from Australia's Foreign Investment Review Board.

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has granted interim approval for a partnership between Qatar Airways and Virgin Australia, which allows them to sell long-haul return flights starting in June 2025.

The interim approval by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) allows Virgin Australia to market and sell 28 weekly scheduled return flights between Doha and Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth, and Sydney.