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. The Austra

Australian jetsetters could soon have more flight options to the Middle East with the consumer watchdog backing a deal between Virgin and Qatar Airways.

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 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.

Australia’s competition watchdog has shown its support of last year’s wet lease agreement between Qatar Airways and Virgin Australia. The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has approved a wet