VIRGIN-QATAR PARTNERSHIP HAS SIGNIFICANT POTENTIAL FOR WORKERS AND TRAVELLING PUBLIC WITH RIGHT SAFEGUARDS

With the approval today of Qatar’s 25% stake in Virgin Australia, following approval of its proposed wet lease arrangements, the TWU has welcomed the decision as a positive for the stability of the airline into the future, opportunities for workers and increased services for the travelling public.

Given ongoing concerns over labour standards, given Qatar Airways’ track record on human rights and worker abuses, Virgin’s commitments to TWU members on ongoing consultation must now be accelerated and embedded as part of this next stage.

After the TWU wrote to Virgin in November of 2024, Virgin agreed to this consultation process to set in place the best practice model for the proposed wet lease, secondments for Virgin pilots and cabin crew and ongoing opportunities for ground crew.

During the pandemic, TWU members were key in the administration process, calling for commitments so that Virgin could retain its regional and international footprint and remain a strong second airline. Following those commitments Virgin’s regional arm VARA was announced this week as the top global regional airline for the second year.

TWU National Secretary Michael Kaine said: 

“With this final tick-off for the Virgin-Qatar partnership, there’s a huge potential here to build Virgin’s international footprint and ensure opportunities for workers.”

“TWU members at Virgin were deeply involved in the administration process and extracted commitments to ensure the airline kept its regional and international footprints. We’ve seen Virgin return as a strong second airline and this tie-up will ensure stability into the future.

“With a question mark still around CEO Jayne Hrdlicka’s successor, it’s critical Bain and Virgin urgently accelerates its commitments to ongoing consultation with workers. There are still significant concerns around labour standards, and we need to see workers deeply involved in this next phase to see the best outcome out of this partnership.

“Maintaining Australian representation on the Virgin Board is critical, but as we’ve seen with Qantas doesn’t necessarily mean we’ll see decisions made in the interest of workers and customers. We need a Safe and Secure Skies Commission that can make those interests in the public decision so aviation returns to an industry we can rely on as a country.”