At a time when money can clearly be made domestically and passengers are paying more, this tie-up won’t fix competition woes

Australians have not exactly been spoiled for choice when it comes to choosing a domestic airline but Qatar Airways’ push to acquire a 25% stake in Virgin Australia could bring a welcome shake-up to the aviation industry.

News of a second Australian carrier now flying to the Middle East – albeit with Qatari planes and crew initially – and a global network of connections beyond that, poses a genuine alternative for travellers to consider, and a serious challenge to Qantas’s stranglehold.

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