Virgin Australia Opens New Travel Opportunities to Europe and Africa via Doha
Virgin Australia has resumed long-haul international flights by launching a direct service between Sydney and Doha, which commenced on 12 June 2025. It signals a major shift in the carrier’s global strategy in cooperation with Qatar Airways. Australian passengers can now reach over 170 destinations through this new route. Flights from Brisbane and Perth are expected to begin later in June, with Melbourne set to follow in December 2025, expanding Australia’s reach to the Middle East.
The flights to Doha operate on Qatar Airways’ Boeing 777 aircraft, known for comfort and modern amenities, including complimentary high-speed Wi-Fi. This expansion is expected to add considerable capacity to the Australia-Middle East travel corridor, with projections estimating 2.65 million seats annually by the end of the year. The newly established route responds to rising travel demand and provides an alternative to crowded Asian hubs, helping cut down long-haul journey times.
Travelers connecting through Doha gain access to a variety of remarkable European destinations. These include Cinque Terre in Italy, celebrated for its colorful coastal villages and scenic hiking trails; Hallstatt in Austria, a lakeside town set against the backdrop of the Dachstein Alps offering natural beauty; and Santorini in Greece, famous for its stunning volcanic cliffs, crystal-clear waters, and iconic whitewashed architecture. These places become more accessible with improved flight options via Doha.
Travelers heading to the Middle East and Africa will benefit from easier access to key destinations such as Wadi Rum in Jordan, noted for its expansive desert landscapes and dramatic rock formations; Zanzibar in Tanzania, renowned for its pristine white beaches and diverse marine life; and Salalah in Oman, where the unique monsoon season transforms the region into a vibrant green retreat. Enhanced connectivity is making it simpler for travelers to explore these diverse locations.
Overall, this new direct link between Sydney and Doha opens up a broader world for Australian travelers, allowing for more efficient planning of multi-destination trips, vacations, and family visits. By reducing transit times and simplifying connections, the route reflects shifting trends in global travel where convenience and flexibility are increasingly important. For travelers, this development means greater access to a variety of destinations with smoother journeys and increased choices.