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.

After Qantas successfully lobbied against extra Qatar Airways flights, the Middle Eastern airline has exacted revenge on the Flying Kangaroo with a deal that will increase competition and possibly result in cheaper fares.

The Australian's Associate Editor Eric Johnston says Qantas faces a “competitive threat” following Qatar’s plans to buy a 25 per cent stake in Virgin Australia.

Allowing an international state-owned carrier buy a stake in Australia’s second-biggest airline will go a long way to creating a better competitive balance in the domestic aviation market.

Qatar Airways plans to acquire 25% of Virgin Australia, potentially to reshape the Qantas-dominated Australian aviation market.

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

Virgin Australia says deal would increase competition with Qantas but consumer watchdog will need to scrutinise it. Read more at straitstimes.com.

Qatar Airways will buy a 25% stake in Australia's No. 2 airline Virgin Australia from U.S. private equity firm Bain Capital, the companies said on Tuesday, as the Gulf carrier looks for access into Australian routes that the government denied last year.

Australia’s second-largest airline, Virgin Australia, said Middle Eastern carrier Qatar Airways plans to acquire a 25% stake, a key investment as the Bain Capital-owned carrier eyes an IPO.

Qatar Airways plans to take a 25% stake in Australia’s Virgin Australia Airlines Pty, expanding the Gulf carrier’s global network of equity holdings.

The deal will see Qatar Airways buy a 25 per cent equity stake in Virgin Australia from private equity group Bain Capital, which bought the carrier originally set up by Sir Richard Branson out of administration during the pandemic.