Virgin Australia will collaborate on a range of sustainability initiatives with Qatar Airways, as the airlines inked a Memorandum of Understanding that underlined their firm intention to strengthen their ties.
The development comes as Qatar Airways Group awaits Australian Government approval to acquire a minority 25% stake in Virgin Australia. The plan, announced earlir this month, will build on the existing strategic partnership between the two parties which recently marked its second anniversary.
So far, the tie-up has seen the airlines collaborate on expanding their networks as well as their lounge and loyalty offerings.
Areas of focus of the new MoU include advancing the use of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) and Low Carbon Aviation Fuel (LCAF), environmental management including waste and energy management, sustainable procurement, and aviation workforce development.
Sustainability-related customer solutions will also be a priority under the deal.
“This is our first sustainability-focused MoU with a partner airline, reflecting the growing and strategic nature of our relationship with Qatar Airways,” said Christian Bennett, Virgin Australia Chief Corporate Affairs & Sustainability Officer.
“It allows Virgin Australia to harness the scale and expertise of the world’s best airline to help tackle a range of sustainability challenges – from the adoption of SAF-related solutions to customer solutions, to workforce development.”
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Qatar Airways Group SVP of Aeropolitical & Corporate Affairs, Fathi Atti highlighted driving progress in environmental sustainability as “at the heart” of Qatar Airways’ corporate culture as he welcomed the MoU.
“We are at the forefront of the aviation sector’s efforts in various areas, evident though our work in climate change and waste management, as well as the successful introduction of an integrated environmental management system,” he said.
“We also recognise the importance of developing the industry’s long-term human capital.”
If the proposed acquisition gets the green light, Virgin Australia will wet-lease Qatar Airways aircraft to introduce flights from Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth and Sydney to Doha, Qatar Airways’ global hub, from mid-2025.
Those flights will be timed to “connect seamlessly into Qatar Airways’ global network,” enabling more than 100 new connecting itineraries to Europe, the Middle East and Africa for Australian travellers.
