Qatar Airways has announced plans to buy a 25% minority stake in Virgin Australia from its owner, US private equity firm Bain Capital.

Qatar Airways has entered into an agreement to purchase a 25% stake in Virgin Australia from owner Bain Capital for an undisclosed amount.

Virgin announced on Oct. 1 that Qatar aims to acquire a 25% stake in the Australian airline from owner Bain Capital. The pair are already strategic partners, and the stake would lead them to strengthen their relationship, the carriers said. The Qatar Airways interest has been previously reported.

Qatar Airways will buy a 25% stake in Virgin Australia from U.S. private equity firm Bain Capital, posing a tougher contest for Qantas Airways that has dominated Australian routes and pushed back against giving access to the Middle Eastern carrier.

Qatar Airways' investment is expected to intensify competition in Australia’s aviation sector, providing travellers with more choices and lower fares.

Virgin Australia will soon be partly owned by Qatar Airways and begin flying to Doha as soon as mid-2025, pending regulatory approvals.Virgin confirmed the Gulf carrier’s intentions to take a 25 per cent stake in the Australian airline if approved by the Foreign Investment Review Board,

Qatar Airways unveiled a bid to take a 25 percent stake in troubled airline Virgin Australia on Tuesday, a deal that could shake up Australia's Qantas-dominated market.

Qatar Airways has announced it intends to buy a 25 per cent stake in Virgin Australia. Sky News Business Reporter Edward Boyd said by mid-2025, Virgin Australia will be “flying from some of the big capital cities direct to Doha” and travellers can continue to fly on to other European destinations with Qatar.

Qatar Airways intends to acquire a quarter stake in Virgin Australia in a partnership the Australian airline calls a "missing piece" of its long-term strategy.