Australian government to pay Qantas and Virgin to keep flying during Covid-19 pandemic

Deputy PM says a domestic aviation network servicing capital cities and major regional centres is 'critical to Australia's success'

The Australian government will pay Qantas and Virgin Australia up to $165m to maintain key domestic flight routes over the next two months.

The move means Virgin Australia, which is under intense financial pressure and had grounded its fleet, will resume flying on Friday and continue the routes for at least the next eight weeks.