Qatar Airways Cargo has partnered with Virgin Australia to significantly boost airfreight capacity for Australian exporters. The two countries enjoy a strong trade partnership with exceeds AUD 3.4 billion (QR 8 billion) annually, placing Qatar among Australia’s top trading partners in the Middle East and North Africa region. In addition to the weekly 240+ tons of belly cargo capacity already available on Qatar Airways’ flights to Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane and Perth, Virgin Atlantic’s flights will bring another 180 tons, increasing the total weekly cargo capacity to 400+ tons each way. From JUN25 on, Virgin Australia will operate daily Boeing 777 flights between Sydney, Brisbane, Perth, and Doha. “With 129 tons of cargo capacity each way between Doha and Perth, 30 tons each way for Brisbane and 21 tons each way for Sydney, these widebody belly-hold services will bring substantial uplift potential,” the release states. Virgin Australia will also operate to Melbourne from DEC25, offering daily Boeing 777 flights from Melbourne together with Qatar Airways. Already today, one in every 14 air cargo shipments from Australia flies with Qatar Airways Cargo via its Doha hub to end destinations in the Middle East, Europe, and the Americas.
Mark Drusch, Chief Officer Cargo at Qatar Airways Cargo, stated: “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. This partnership with Virgin Australia significantly increases capacity available to Perth, Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne — a major improvement in global cargo capacity for exporters. With these new services, we are responding decisively to long-standing market demands. The addition of Virgin Australia’s Boeing 777s more than doubles the airfreight capacity on key routes. It is a bold move, reinforcing Qatar Airways Cargo’s leadership in connecting Australia’s economy to the world’s most dynamic markets.” Dimitris Politis, Head of Cargo at Virgin Australia, agreed: “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 internationalmarkets.”
