Qatar Airways Buys 25 Percent of Virgin Australia, Promising More Flights and Cheaper Fares

Federal Treasurer Jim Chalmers says he has been guaranteed the move will benefit Australians.

Virgin Blue line the apron at Sydney Airport on January 9, 2008. Torsten Blackwood/Getty Images

The Australian government has approved a deal allowing Middle Eastern airline Qatar Airways to acquire a 25 percent minority stake in Virgin Australia.

As part of the deal, 28 new weekly return services will operate between Doha and four major Australian cities—Perth, Brisbane, Sydney, and Melbourne.