Qatar Airways Cargo Accelerates Australian Exports with Virgin Australia Partnership

In a new partnership with Virgin Australia, Qatar Airways Cargo will offer customers an additional 180+ tonnes of cargo capacity per week across Sydney, Brisbane, and Perth — three of Australia’s most critical export hubs.
 
Qatar Airways Cargo, the world's leading air cargo carrier, is strengthening global trade connections by expanding its capacity to and from Australia through its new Virgin Australia partnership. Qatar Airways Cargo currently offers more than 240 tonnes of belly cargo capacity each way each week into Australia to key cities Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane and Perth. With the addition of these Virgin Australia flights, total cargo capacity will increase to more than 400 tonnes each way, each week.
 
Starting June 2025 Virgin Australia will operate daily Boeing 777 flights between Sydney, Brisbane, Perth, and Doha. With 129 tonnes of cargo capacity each way between Doha and Perth, 30 tonnes each way for Brisbane and 21 tonnes each way for Sydney, these widebody belly-hold services will bring substantial uplift potential. Effective December 2025, Virgin Australia will add daily Boeing 777 flights from Melbourne with Qatar Airways.
 
Mark Drusch, Chief Officer Cargo at Qatar Airways Cargo said: “Australia plays a pivotal role in global trade, and it is essential for us to empower its exporters with the best possible connectivity. Our proven expertise in safeguarding sensitive shipments such as perishables and pharmaceuticals positions us as the trusted partner for Australia's trade ambitions. This partnership with Virgin Australia significantly increases capacity available to Perth, Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne — a major improvement in global cargo capacity for exporters.”
 
“With these new services, we are responding decisively to long-standing market demands,” Drusch adds. “The addition of Virgin Australia’s Boeing 777s more than doubles the airfreight capacity on key routes. It is a bold move, reinforcing Qatar Airways Cargo’s leadership in connecting Australia’s economy to the world’s most dynamic markets.”
 
Dimitris Politis, Head of Cargo at Virgin Australia added: “We're thrilled to partner with Qatar Airways Cargo, combining our strong domestic network with their global reach. This collaboration delivers significant new capacity for Australian exporters and strengthens our ability to connect Australian businesses with international markets."
 
With two-way trade between Qatar and Australia surpassing AUD 3.4 billion (QR 8 billion) annually, Qatar ranks among Australia’s top trading partners in the Middle East and North Africa region.
 
Qatar Airways Cargo is at the heart of this success, ensuring Australian exports — particularly perishables and pharmaceuticals — reach global markets with unmatched speed and reliability. Today, one in every 14 air cargo shipments from Australia is entrusted to Qatar Airways Cargo, passing through its cutting-edge Doha hub en-route to the Middle East, Europe, and the Americas.