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.

(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.