Virgin Australia International Doha Flights Are Now On Sale

Virgin Australia’s return to long-haul international flying is now within reach, as Australia’s most wonderful airline finally opens the floodgates for its Qatar Airways wet lease operation. Travellers can now book Virgin Australia flights from Sydney, Brisbane and Perth to Doha, with connections possible onto Qatar’s extensive network across Europe, the Middle East and Africa.

To get the party started, Virgin is offering sale fares on its new Doha services, including;

• Perth to Paris: Economy return from $1791, Business return from $7679
• Sydney to London: Economy return from $1982, Business return from $9351
• Brisbane to Rome: Economy return from $1945, Business return from $9409.

For those Velocity members ready to cash in their points for a long-haul Virgin QSuite, or should I say VSuite, the wait is a little longer. As fares dropped earlier today, Virgin Australia confirmed that Velocity Reward Seats will “initially not be available on wet lease flights.”

The new direct services are set to take flight in June 2025. Interestingly, the current schedule sees inaugural flights departing from Australia, not Doha, which could hint at a select few Qatar jets permanently operating for Virgin and based in Australia. That would be an unexpected move, considering these flights will utilise Qatar check-in desks, baggage limits, catering, inflight products and of course Qatar aircraft and crew.

According to the published schedule, below are the current inaugural flights from Australia;

• Sydney: 12 June 2025
• Brisbane: 19 June 2025
• Perth: 26 June 2025

Virgin Australia’s Doha Flight Schedule

Below is Virgin Australia’s proposed Doha flight schedule, alongside Qatar’s existing operation;

Sydney

• VA1 will depart Sydney at 2:50pm and arrive in Doha at 10:50pm (B777)
• QR909/VA6131 departs Sydney at 8:45pm, arriving in Doha at 4:55am (A380)

• VA2 will depart Doha at 9:15am and arrive in Sydney at 6:15am (B777)
• QR908/VA6130 departs Doha at 10:05pm, arriving in Sydney at 5:10pm (A380)

Brisbane

• VA15 will depart Brisbane at 3:10pm and arrive in Doha at 11pm (B777)
• QR899/VA6133 departs Brisbane at 10:15pm, arriving in Doha at 6am (B777)

• VA16 will depart Doha at 1:40am and arrive in Brisbane at 10:45pm (B777)
• QR898/VA6132 departs Doha at 8:25pm, arriving in Brisbane at 5:30pm (B777)

Perth

• VA21 will depart Perth at 3:20pm and arrive in Doha at 9:50pm (B777)
• QR901/VA6129 departs Perth at 10:45pm, arriving in Doha at 5:20am (A380)

• VA22 will depart Doha at 7:50pm and arrive in Perth at 11:55am (B777)
• QR900/VA6128 departs Doha at 2:45am, arriving in Perth at 6:45pm (A380)

Virgin Australia is yet to file its VA7 Melbourne to Doha and VA8 Doha to Melbourne flight schedule, but flights are likely to begin in December 2025.

Booking Virgin Australia Doha Flights With Velocity Points

Because these new flights are technically Virgin Australia flights, the redemption cost will actually cost less than that of the Qatar-marketed flights. Based on the Velocity Rewad tables, here’s how it plays out;Sydney, Melbourne or Brisbane to/from Doha;

• Economy: 44,800 Velocity Points (Virgin flight) or 56,000 (Qatar flight)
• Business: 95,500 Velocity Points (Virgin flight) or 104,000 (Qatar flight)

Perth to/from Doha;

• Economy: 34,800 Velocity Points (Virgin flight) or 42,000 (Qatar flight)
• Business: 71,500 Velocity Points (Virgin flight) or 78,000 (Qatar flight)

Note that the impending Velocity Frequent Flyer devaluation that kicks in from 21 January 2025 will increase the cost of Business Rewards on the Qatar-marketed flights above by around 15%. From that date, you will need 119,500 Velocity Points for Sydney, Melbourne or Brisbane, and 89,500 Velocity Points for Perth. Other flights above will remain unchanged.