Big changes coming to Virgin’s partnership with Singapore Airlines

Virgin Australia and Singapore Airlines have enjoyed a long and close partnership, to the delight of both airlines’ frequent flyers.

But that will change if Qatar Airways offers to invest 25% in Virgin goes forward.

As a result, Qatar Airways will become Virgin’s exclusive partner on flights to the UK, Europe, Africa and the Middle East.

Virgin codeshare flights on Singapore Airlines’ worldwide network, which unlocks maximum points and status credit benefits for Velocity frequent flyers, will be reduced to Asia and India.

Virgin’s updated international partner network is detailed in application for “proposed integrated alliance” with Qatar Airways and filed with the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC).

“Virgin Australia will not codeshare international flights with other airlines to, from or within the Middle East, Europe and Africa,” said the application, which was submitted to the ACCC for approval ahead of the launch of Qatar Airways’ new flights. from Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane already in June 2025.

These flights, officially operated by Virgin Australia but using aircraft and crew provided by Qatar Airways, will to extend to Perth by November 2025.

The ACCC proposal includes a map showing how Virgin’s partner network will be transformed under its Qatar Airways alliance, highlighting QR’s “exclusive” role for flights to the GCC and beyond, including key destinations in the UK and Europe.

Virgin Australia declined to comment when contacted Executive traveleralthough Singapore Airlines responded that it “cannot comment on any confidential commercial discussions”.

As previously reported, the new VA/QR alliance will also likely spell the end Virgin’s relationship with Etihad Airways.

Velocity frequent fliers will still be able to earn points and status credits on Singapore Airlines flights – and significantly more points if that flight has a VA flight number – but there will be fewer routes on which these codeshare flights will be available.

However, the relationship redefinition will not affect the ability to convert Virgin Australia Velocity Points into KrisFlyer Singapore Airlines miles.

Likewise, reciprocal status recognition—giving Velocity and KrisFlyer elite members access to lounges and priority benefits—will remain in place.

Also not far off is a reduction in the number of accrued Velocity statuses received not only by Singapore Airlines, but also All partner airlines.

From 1 October 2025, a Singapore Airlines flight from Brisbane, Sydney or Melbourne to Singapore will earn just 50% fewer Velocity Status Points in Economy Class (from 30 SC Credits per day to 15 SC), with a reduction in Premium Economy Class less (from October 1, 2025). from 90 shopping centers to 75 shopping centers) and business class (from 120 shopping centers to 100 shopping centers).

This is part of a radical overhaul of the Velocity rewards program, which status is directly linked to the cost of your air ticketsimultaneously with the launch Lifetime Velocity status and new Platinum Plus level.