Australia's competition watchdog on Tuesday backed a planned alliance between Virgin Australia and Qatar Airways, saying it would provide air travellers with improved services and products.

Australia’s competition watchdog has granted draft approval for the proposed partnership between Qatar Airways and Virgin Australia, including Qatar’s planned wet-leasing of widebodies to Virgin.

Australia’s competition and consumer commission is proposing to grant Virgin Australia and Qatar Airways’ alliance for five years

(Reuters) - Australia's competition regulator said on Tuesday it was proposing to allow Virgin Australia and Qatar Airways to operate flights between Doha and four Australian capital cities under an integrated alliance for five years.

Virgin Australia and Air India have commenced a new codeshare partnership that will greatly boost connectivity between the two nations.

Australia’s competition watchdog on Tuesday backed a planned alliance between Virgin Australia and Qatar Airways, saying it would provide air travellers with improved services and products. Read: Australia backs Virgin-Qatar Airways tie-up citing improved air services The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission’s (ACCC) draft determination comes after it gave its interim approval to Virgin Australia in November to market and sell 28 weekly scheduled return flights between Doha and Brisbane,