Virgin Australia launches new flight from Brisbane to Doha
Virgin Australia has launched a new flight from Brisbane to Doha unlocking more than 170 global destinations through Qatar Airways.
This project will bring tourism, trade and big spending to the sunshine state.
The route will be flown by a Boeing 777 aircraft and expected to bring in 129,000 international visitors a year, as well as inject more than $90 million into the state's visitor economy.
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The Advertiser
a day ago
- The Advertiser
Cancellations, delays, reroutes: the Middle East conflict is changing flying
Cancellations, delays, and reroutes have continued for Australian travellers despite a fragile ceasefire between Israel and Iran. The Middle East is a vital transit point for flights from Australia with some carriers altering flight paths to remain a safe distance from any instability. Carriers have also offered free booking changes and cancellations. The airspace around Iran and Iraq has been empty of air traffic since Israel began strikes on Iran on June 13, leading to widespread flight diversions. On June 23, Qatar briefly also closed its airspace before Iran fired missiles at a US military base in the country. Doha is second only to Dubai for passenger numbers in the Gulf. University of Sydney professor Rico Merkert told ACM, the publisher of this masthead, that the closure wreaked havoc on travel plans. "The incident at the US airbase in Qatar has resulted in the airspace of essentially the entire Middle East being shut for almost a day, which caused temporary chaos in the flight networks of the impacted airlines, especially Qatar Airways, Emirates, flydubai, Etihad, but also other international airlines flying to that region such as British Airways or Singapore Airlines," he said. Professor Merkert said substantial commercial traffic goes through mega hubs in the Middle East, like Doha Hamad International Airport. "These hubs are to passenger airlines what the Strait of Hormuz is to oil tanker operations, extremely critical," he said. Foreign Minister Penny Wong said Australians should seek updates from airlines and follow Smartraveller for the most up-to-date advice and warnings. Smartraveller said "closure of airspace around transit hubs in the Middle East may impact flights globally". "It may cause flight delays and cancellations," an alert said. READ MORE: 'It depends where you live': how the Middle East conflict affects bowser prices "Your travel plans may be affected, even if your destination is not in the Middle East." The travel advisory group urges people to contact their airline to confirm flights and check cancellation policies. Australian Travel Industry Association CEO Dean Long said there was a higher level of anxiety amongst Australian travellers at the moment but airlines were not seeing cancellations above a normal rate. He said it would take another couple of days for flights to return to a more normal rhythm after the closure of the Qatar airspace. Virgin Australia's scheduled services to and from Doha, operated by Qatar Airways, are back to normal after the June 24 chaos, the airline said. "We encourage guests scheduled to travel on Virgin Australia services between Australia and Doha in the coming days to monitor their flight information closely," a spokesperson told ACM. "We are offering free booking changes or cancellations to guests who are booked on Virgin Australia's Doha services with onward connections in the coming days (up to and including 30 June 2025) and no longer wish to travel." A spokesperson for Qantas told ACM it was monitoring the situation closely but there was "no material impact expected for today's Qantas flights between Australia and Europe". "We have a number of flight path options that we utilise for our flights to Europe, and these are reviewed regularly based on factors including weather and security," a spokesperson said. "We proactively alter our flight paths if needed based on changes in these conditions." Cancellations, delays, and reroutes have continued for Australian travellers despite a fragile ceasefire between Israel and Iran. The Middle East is a vital transit point for flights from Australia with some carriers altering flight paths to remain a safe distance from any instability. Carriers have also offered free booking changes and cancellations. The airspace around Iran and Iraq has been empty of air traffic since Israel began strikes on Iran on June 13, leading to widespread flight diversions. On June 23, Qatar briefly also closed its airspace before Iran fired missiles at a US military base in the country. Doha is second only to Dubai for passenger numbers in the Gulf. University of Sydney professor Rico Merkert told ACM, the publisher of this masthead, that the closure wreaked havoc on travel plans. "The incident at the US airbase in Qatar has resulted in the airspace of essentially the entire Middle East being shut for almost a day, which caused temporary chaos in the flight networks of the impacted airlines, especially Qatar Airways, Emirates, flydubai, Etihad, but also other international airlines flying to that region such as British Airways or Singapore Airlines," he said. Professor Merkert said substantial commercial traffic goes through mega hubs in the Middle East, like Doha Hamad International Airport. "These hubs are to passenger airlines what the Strait of Hormuz is to oil tanker operations, extremely critical," he said. Foreign Minister Penny Wong said Australians should seek updates from airlines and follow Smartraveller for the most up-to-date advice and warnings. Smartraveller said "closure of airspace around transit hubs in the Middle East may impact flights globally". "It may cause flight delays and cancellations," an alert said. READ MORE: 'It depends where you live': how the Middle East conflict affects bowser prices "Your travel plans may be affected, even if your destination is not in the Middle East." The travel advisory group urges people to contact their airline to confirm flights and check cancellation policies. Australian Travel Industry Association CEO Dean Long said there was a higher level of anxiety amongst Australian travellers at the moment but airlines were not seeing cancellations above a normal rate. He said it would take another couple of days for flights to return to a more normal rhythm after the closure of the Qatar airspace. Virgin Australia's scheduled services to and from Doha, operated by Qatar Airways, are back to normal after the June 24 chaos, the airline said. "We encourage guests scheduled to travel on Virgin Australia services between Australia and Doha in the coming days to monitor their flight information closely," a spokesperson told ACM. "We are offering free booking changes or cancellations to guests who are booked on Virgin Australia's Doha services with onward connections in the coming days (up to and including 30 June 2025) and no longer wish to travel." A spokesperson for Qantas told ACM it was monitoring the situation closely but there was "no material impact expected for today's Qantas flights between Australia and Europe". "We have a number of flight path options that we utilise for our flights to Europe, and these are reviewed regularly based on factors including weather and security," a spokesperson said. "We proactively alter our flight paths if needed based on changes in these conditions." Cancellations, delays, and reroutes have continued for Australian travellers despite a fragile ceasefire between Israel and Iran. The Middle East is a vital transit point for flights from Australia with some carriers altering flight paths to remain a safe distance from any instability. Carriers have also offered free booking changes and cancellations. The airspace around Iran and Iraq has been empty of air traffic since Israel began strikes on Iran on June 13, leading to widespread flight diversions. On June 23, Qatar briefly also closed its airspace before Iran fired missiles at a US military base in the country. Doha is second only to Dubai for passenger numbers in the Gulf. University of Sydney professor Rico Merkert told ACM, the publisher of this masthead, that the closure wreaked havoc on travel plans. "The incident at the US airbase in Qatar has resulted in the airspace of essentially the entire Middle East being shut for almost a day, which caused temporary chaos in the flight networks of the impacted airlines, especially Qatar Airways, Emirates, flydubai, Etihad, but also other international airlines flying to that region such as British Airways or Singapore Airlines," he said. Professor Merkert said substantial commercial traffic goes through mega hubs in the Middle East, like Doha Hamad International Airport. "These hubs are to passenger airlines what the Strait of Hormuz is to oil tanker operations, extremely critical," he said. Foreign Minister Penny Wong said Australians should seek updates from airlines and follow Smartraveller for the most up-to-date advice and warnings. Smartraveller said "closure of airspace around transit hubs in the Middle East may impact flights globally". "It may cause flight delays and cancellations," an alert said. READ MORE: 'It depends where you live': how the Middle East conflict affects bowser prices "Your travel plans may be affected, even if your destination is not in the Middle East." The travel advisory group urges people to contact their airline to confirm flights and check cancellation policies. Australian Travel Industry Association CEO Dean Long said there was a higher level of anxiety amongst Australian travellers at the moment but airlines were not seeing cancellations above a normal rate. He said it would take another couple of days for flights to return to a more normal rhythm after the closure of the Qatar airspace. Virgin Australia's scheduled services to and from Doha, operated by Qatar Airways, are back to normal after the June 24 chaos, the airline said. "We encourage guests scheduled to travel on Virgin Australia services between Australia and Doha in the coming days to monitor their flight information closely," a spokesperson told ACM. "We are offering free booking changes or cancellations to guests who are booked on Virgin Australia's Doha services with onward connections in the coming days (up to and including 30 June 2025) and no longer wish to travel." A spokesperson for Qantas told ACM it was monitoring the situation closely but there was "no material impact expected for today's Qantas flights between Australia and Europe". "We have a number of flight path options that we utilise for our flights to Europe, and these are reviewed regularly based on factors including weather and security," a spokesperson said. "We proactively alter our flight paths if needed based on changes in these conditions." Cancellations, delays, and reroutes have continued for Australian travellers despite a fragile ceasefire between Israel and Iran. The Middle East is a vital transit point for flights from Australia with some carriers altering flight paths to remain a safe distance from any instability. Carriers have also offered free booking changes and cancellations. The airspace around Iran and Iraq has been empty of air traffic since Israel began strikes on Iran on June 13, leading to widespread flight diversions. On June 23, Qatar briefly also closed its airspace before Iran fired missiles at a US military base in the country. Doha is second only to Dubai for passenger numbers in the Gulf. University of Sydney professor Rico Merkert told ACM, the publisher of this masthead, that the closure wreaked havoc on travel plans. "The incident at the US airbase in Qatar has resulted in the airspace of essentially the entire Middle East being shut for almost a day, which caused temporary chaos in the flight networks of the impacted airlines, especially Qatar Airways, Emirates, flydubai, Etihad, but also other international airlines flying to that region such as British Airways or Singapore Airlines," he said. Professor Merkert said substantial commercial traffic goes through mega hubs in the Middle East, like Doha Hamad International Airport. "These hubs are to passenger airlines what the Strait of Hormuz is to oil tanker operations, extremely critical," he said. Foreign Minister Penny Wong said Australians should seek updates from airlines and follow Smartraveller for the most up-to-date advice and warnings. Smartraveller said "closure of airspace around transit hubs in the Middle East may impact flights globally". "It may cause flight delays and cancellations," an alert said. READ MORE: 'It depends where you live': how the Middle East conflict affects bowser prices "Your travel plans may be affected, even if your destination is not in the Middle East." The travel advisory group urges people to contact their airline to confirm flights and check cancellation policies. Australian Travel Industry Association CEO Dean Long said there was a higher level of anxiety amongst Australian travellers at the moment but airlines were not seeing cancellations above a normal rate. He said it would take another couple of days for flights to return to a more normal rhythm after the closure of the Qatar airspace. Virgin Australia's scheduled services to and from Doha, operated by Qatar Airways, are back to normal after the June 24 chaos, the airline said. "We encourage guests scheduled to travel on Virgin Australia services between Australia and Doha in the coming days to monitor their flight information closely," a spokesperson told ACM. "We are offering free booking changes or cancellations to guests who are booked on Virgin Australia's Doha services with onward connections in the coming days (up to and including 30 June 2025) and no longer wish to travel." A spokesperson for Qantas told ACM it was monitoring the situation closely but there was "no material impact expected for today's Qantas flights between Australia and Europe". "We have a number of flight path options that we utilise for our flights to Europe, and these are reviewed regularly based on factors including weather and security," a spokesperson said. "We proactively alter our flight paths if needed based on changes in these conditions."
Sky News AU
a day ago
- Sky News AU
Major airlines including Qantas, Emirates, Singapore Airlines and Qatar Airways offer refunds after flights were affected by conflict in Middle East
Prominent airlines have offered refunds and flight credits to thousands of passengers, after a deadly war between Israel and Iran caused the shutdown of Qatar's airspace, leading to flight chaos amid peak holiday season for Australians. On Monday night Iranian missiles were launched at an American military base in Qatar in response to the United States' bombing of Iran's key nuclear sites. The incident forced a number of airlines to cancel, reduce and divert their flights as the Qatar airspace shut down on Tuesday. The closure only lasted a couple of hours, but it created a significant backlog at Doha Hamad International Airport, which is considered to be one of the busiest airports in the world. Qantas, Emirates, Virgin Australia, Etihad, British Airways and Singapore Airlines were all impacted by the recent conflict, but Qatar Airways was affected the most. Qatar Airways told customers it is currently working to restore the impacted flight schedule, but warned possible disruptions lie ahead until at least Thursday. 'Those who wish to change their travel dates may do so without paying a fee until July 15, 2025,' the airline wrote in a recent statement. 'Customers who no longer wish to travel can opt to receive a refund of the unused value of their tickets, without any cancellation fee being applied. 'Qatar Airways fully complies with international aviation regulations for safe aircraft routes. Passengers safety remains our highest priority." The major airline has also temporarily cancelled flights to to Iran, Iraq and Syria to avoid the current warzones. Qantas is offering customers fee-free refunds or a fee-free date change for flights through Qantas to, from or via Dubai for travel up to June 27, 2025. 'If you wish to change your booking or no longer wish to travel, we're offering a fee-free refund, Flight Credit or fee-free date change for flights booked before June 23 for travel to June 27, 2025,' it wrote in a statement. 'If you've booked directly with Qantas, contact us on 13 13 13 within Australia, or contact your local Qantas office if you're outside of Australia, for assistance. 'If you've booked through a travel agent, please contact your agent directly for assistance.' The airline further added it is continuing to closely monitor the situation in the Middle East. Services between Australia and Europe that were scheduled to depart on June 24 operated as planned, but the airline's Perth-Paris flight on Tuesday was diverted back to Perth, while its Perth-London flight was diverted to Singapore. Emirates issued a statement on Tuesday confirming it had re-routed a number of flights en route to its base in Dubai, but there were no diversions. After a thorough and careful risk assessment, Emirates will continue to operate flights as scheduled, using flight paths well distanced from conflict areas,' it said in a statement. 'Some flights may incur delays due to longer re-routings or airspace congestion, but Emirates' teams are working hard to keep to schedule and minimise any disruption or inconvenience to our customers. 'Emirates will continue to actively monitor the situation, engage with relevant stakeholders, and adjust our operations in line with the latest updates. 'We adhere to all regulatory requirements for our operations, and follow bulletins issued by the aviation authorities.' The airline further added it would assist passengers with refunds, rebooking and alternative travel arrangements. Virgin Australia has not announced any refunds, but are offering customers free booking changes or cancellations. "We encourage guests scheduled to travel on Virgin Australia services between Australia and Doha in the coming days to monitor their flight information closely,' a statement read. 'We are offering free booking changes or cancellations to guests who are booked on Virgin Australia's Doha services with onward connections in the coming days (up to and including 30 June 2025) and no longer wish to travel. 'For more information, guests can contact the Virgin Australia Guest Contact Centre on 13 67 89 (within Australia) or +61 7 3295 2296 (if calling from outside of Australia).' It is understood the airline's scheduled services to and from Doha, operated by Qatar Airways are still expected to operate on Wednesday, June 25. Singapore Airlines has also offered refunds after it cancelled eight flights to Dubai from Sunday through to Wednesday. "Customers affected by the flight cancellations will be re-accommodated on alternative flights or can seek a full refund of the unused portion of their ticket,'' a Singapore Airlines statement read. The Australian Travel Industry Association (ATIA) has advised passengers not to cancel their flights, despite the airlines' offerings. ''The one thing we learned through Covid is don't cancel as it reduces the number of rights you have. Let the airline make that decision. This approach ensures your rights are protected and you get the support you need,' ATIA CEO Dean Long said. ''If your airline cancels the flight, you are entitled to a full refund or rebooking. But if you cancel yourself, you could lose those rights entirely.''
AU Financial Review
a day ago
- AU Financial Review
Virgin's comeback is a lesson on managing executive energy
This week's Virgin Australia initial public offering is being hailed as a turnaround story, and rightly so. Just four years ago, the airline was bankrupt. But today it's back on the ASX with impressive momentum, thanks in large part to the leadership of recently departed chief executive Jayne Hrdlicka, who steered the business through its ambitious post-pandemic rebuild. But what's often overlooked in these complicated, high-stakes restructures is what it takes to drive that kind of long-haul transformation. Strategy alone does not supercharge a comeback like this, it takes a leader who knows how to manage their energy.
