News https://newsroom.virginaustralia.com/news en 'Sky's the limit' for regional Australians: Virgin Australia and Link Airways codeshare now on sale https://newsroom.virginaustralia.com/release/skys-limit-regional-australians-virgin-australia-and-link-airways-codeshare-now-sale <div class="field-headline-image"> <img typeof="foaf:Image" src="https://newsroom.virginaustralia.com/sites/default/files/styles/article_header/public/VA_LINK-1-edit.jpg" width="780" height="400" alt="" /> </div> <div class="field-body"> <ul> <li>Codeshare flights between Virgin Australia and Link Airways go on sale from today on Virgin Australia&rsquo;s website, expanding the travel opportunities for millions of regional Australians.&nbsp;</li> <li>Virgin Australia has already sold thousands of seats on the codeshare services, via travel agencies, since the partnership was announced in January, with Bundaberg to Brisbane the most popular route by far.</li> <li>Virgin Australia customers will now be able to travel seamlessly for the first time to 41 Australian destinations on a single booking, with through check-in and baggage transfer.</li> <li>Guests with Velocity membership will be able to earn both Points and Status Credits on Virgin Australia codeshare services operated by Link Airways, and Velocity Platinum, Gold and Silver members will also earn bonus Points and receive an additional baggage allowance, when flying on eligible fares.</li> </ul> <p><strong>Tuesday, 19 March 2024:</strong> The first codeshare flights between Virgin Australia and Link Airways go on general sale today, giving regional Australians the chance to fly between 41 destinations across the country on a single booking.</p> <p>The partnership expands Virgin Australia&rsquo;s regional footprint by approximately 45 percent, offering services to destinations like Inverell, Wollongong, and Bileola which are not currently serviced by any other major airline.</p> <p>From today, guests can book codeshare flights directly via Virgin Australia&rsquo;s website, on any of the 17 new routes, equating to around 90 more flight opportunities across regional Australia per week.</p> <p>Guests with Velocity membership will be able to earn both Points and Status Credits on Virgin Australia codeshare services operated by Link Airways, and Velocity Platinum, Gold and Silver members will also earn bonus Points and receive an additional baggage allowance, when flying on eligible fares. Eligible Velocity members can also access Virgin Australia Lounges when travelling on these Virgin Australia codeshare services.</p> <p><strong>Commentary from Virgin Australia Chief Strategy and Transformation Officer, Alistair Hartley:</strong></p> <p>&ldquo;The sky&rsquo;s the limit now for so many regional Australians wanting better connectivity between home and the rest of our great country,&rdquo; Mr Hartley said.</p> <p>&ldquo;We know our customers in regional Australia want this service, having already sold thousands of seats via travel agents since we announced the partnership in January. I can confirm that Bundaberg to Brisbane return is our most popular route so far under this new partnership.</p> <p>&ldquo;Our guests will be able to enjoy our seamless and efficient service, earn loyalty points and enjoy the benefits under our award-winning Velocity Frequent Flyer program.</p> <p>&ldquo;Virgin Australia is committed to providing value for our customers and we are proud to know this agreement between us and Link Airways will go a long way to providing customers with connectivity and choice.&rdquo;</p> <p><strong>Commentary from Link Airways Manager Network Strategy and Development, Jeff Boyd:</strong></p> <p>&ldquo;Link Airways is extremely pleased to team with Virgin Australia as a Domestic Codeshare Partner Airline and it looks forward to welcoming many more new customers aboard,&rdquo; Mr Boyd said.</p> <p>&ldquo;Today&rsquo;s announcement will further enhance the connectivity for people travelling to and from the amazing Australian Regional Towns and&nbsp;Cities that we service and provide seamless connectivity Australia-wide through the Virgin Australia&rsquo;s expansive route network.&rdquo;<br /> &nbsp;</p> <p><strong>ENDS</strong></p> <p><strong>NOTES TO THE EDITOR:</strong></p> <p>New regional routes available as Virgin Australia codeshare (in both directions):</p> <ul> <li>Brisbane &lt;&gt; Coffs Harbour (BNE-CFS)</li> <li>Brisbane &lt;&gt; Bundaberg (BNE&ndash;BDB)</li> <li>Brisbane &lt;&gt; Biloela (BNE-ZBL)</li> <li>Brisbane &lt;&gt; Inverell (BNE-IVR)</li> <li>Brisbane &lt;&gt; Narrabri (BNE-NAA)</li> <li>Brisbane &lt;&gt; Dubbo (BNE&ndash;DBO)</li> <li>Brisbane &lt;&gt; Orange (BNE&ndash;OAG)</li> <li>Brisbane &lt;&gt; Tamworth (BNE&ndash;TMW)</li> <li>Brisbane &lt;&gt; Armidale (BNE&ndash;ARM)</li> <li>Brisbane &lt;&gt; Wollongong (BNE&ndash;WOL)</li> <li>Sydney &lt;&gt; Narrabri (SYD-NAA)</li> <li>Sydney &lt;&gt; Inverell (SYD-IVR)</li> <li>Melbourne &lt;&gt; Dubbo (MEL-DBO)</li> <li>Melbourne &lt;&gt; Orange (MEL-OAG)</li> <li>Melbourne &lt;&gt; Wollongong (MEL-WOL)</li> <li>Canberra &lt;&gt; Hobart (CBR-HBA)</li> <li>Canberra &lt;&gt; Newcastle (CBR-NTL).</li> </ul> <p>Guests can book directly via virginaustralia.com.</p> <p>Link Airways operate a fleet of 14 aircraft with their service offering including complimentary tea, coffee and water and snack.</p> <p>For detailed information on loyalty benefits when travelling with Link Airways, please visit the Velocity website <a href="https://www.velocityfrequentflyer.com/partners-offers/airlines/link-airways">here</a>.</p> <p>Entry to the Virgin Australia Lounge is subject to space availability and Virgin Australia Lounge <a href="https://www.virginaustralia.com/au/en/travel-info/at-the-airport/lounge/terms-and-conditions/">terms and conditions</a>.</p> </div> <div class="field-tweet"> <div class="tweetbutton-tweet tweetbutton"><a href="http://twitter.com/share" data-size="large" data-count="horizontal" data-via="" data-related="@virginaustralia:" data-text="&#039;Sky&#039;s the limit&#039; for regional Australians: Virgin Australia and Link Airways codeshare now on sale" data-counturl="https://newsroom.virginaustralia.com/release/skys-limit-regional-australians-virgin-australia-and-link-airways-codeshare-now-sale" data-url="https://newsroom.virginaustralia.com/release/skys-limit-regional-australians-virgin-australia-and-link-airways-codeshare-now-sale" data-lang="en" class="twitter-share-button">Tweet</a></div> </div> Tue, 19 Mar 2024 02:41:01 +0000 Virgin Australia 1164 at https://newsroom.virginaustralia.com Virgin Australia Regional Airlines wins Best Regional Airline of the Year in global awards https://newsroom.virginaustralia.com/release/virgin-australia-regional-airlines-wins-best-regional-airline-year-global-awards <div class="field-headline-image"> <img typeof="foaf:Image" src="https://newsroom.virginaustralia.com/sites/default/files/styles/article_header/public/29aug23-007%20%281%29.jpg" width="780" height="400" alt="" /> </div> <div class="field-body"> <p><strong>Monday, 11 March 2024: </strong>For the first time in its history, Virgin Australia Regional Airlines (VARA) has topped a global list of regional airline operators to take out 2024 Best Regional Airline in the Airline Excellence Awards, presented annually by leading aviation ratings website, AirlineRatings.com.</p> <p>The awards are judged by five editors with over 180 years&rsquo; industry experience, bringing together major safety and government audits with 12 key criteria that includes fleet age, safety rating, passenger reviews, profitability, product offerings, and staff relations.</p> <p><strong>VARA Executive General Manager, Nathan Miller </strong>said he was delighted to see VARA recognised for an award that takes into consideration regional airlines globally.</p> <p>&ldquo;VARA has been a proud fixture in the Western Australian landscape for over six decades, playing an important role in connecting communities across our vast state,&rdquo; he said.</p> <p>&ldquo;Being awarded Regional Airline of the Year is an honour that underscores our commitment to exceptional customer service which is delivered by our incredible team each and every day.</p> <p>&ldquo;This award follows a number of exciting milestones for VARA as we continue to diversify our charter portfolio and expand our reach in Western Australia.&rdquo;</p> <p>This month, VARA commenced a process of consultation on its intention to acquire at least four new generation aircraft to replace its aging F100 fleet, which if acquired would introduce new aircraft to the WA 100-seat charter market.</p> <p>The potential replacement aircraft types would provide superior performance compared to the F100, lower fuel consumption and emissions through the employment of geared turbofan engines, enhanced customer product and improved operational performance.</p> <p>VARA, formerly Skywest, joined Virgin Australia Group in 2013 and now employs over 450 team members, operating more than 250 services on F100, and A320 aircraft each week.</p> <p>The regional airline holds the highest seven-star safety rating with AirlineRatings.com, which delivers expert safety ratings for airlines around the world.</p> </div> <div class="field-tweet"> <div class="tweetbutton-tweet tweetbutton"><a href="http://twitter.com/share" data-size="large" data-count="horizontal" data-via="" data-related="@virginaustralia:" data-text="Virgin Australia Regional Airlines wins Best Regional Airline of the Year in global awards" data-counturl="https://newsroom.virginaustralia.com/release/virgin-australia-regional-airlines-wins-best-regional-airline-year-global-awards" data-url="https://newsroom.virginaustralia.com/release/virgin-australia-regional-airlines-wins-best-regional-airline-year-global-awards" data-lang="en" class="twitter-share-button">Tweet</a></div> </div> Mon, 11 Mar 2024 01:39:15 +0000 Virgin Australia 1163 at https://newsroom.virginaustralia.com Virgin Australia celebrates International Women’s Day with all-female flight operated by Deborah Lawrie https://newsroom.virginaustralia.com/release/virgin-australia-celebrates-international-women%E2%80%99s-day-all-female-flight-operated-deborah <div class="field-headline-image"> <img typeof="foaf:Image" src="https://newsroom.virginaustralia.com/sites/default/files/styles/article_header/public/Flight%20and%20Cabin%20Crew.jpg" width="780" height="400" alt="" /> </div> <div class="field-body"> <p><a href="https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1p_Sk7j8tKC6VrICV-JYnCvRZgVWPZkKr?usp=sharing"><strong>DOWNLOAD</strong></a> VIDEO NEWS RELEASE<br /> <a href="https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1gZmKuBKR6258RR2GCfYlMR91X7Gbnv9P?usp=sharing"><strong>DOWNLOAD</strong></a> IMAGES</p> <ul> <li>VA313 departed Melbourne at 8:10am (AEDT) and arrives in Brisbane at 9:20am (AEST).</li> <li>Every role on the ground and in the air in relation to this flight is being managed by women.</li> <li>The initiative is a collaboration between Virgin Australia, Melbourne Airport, Brisbane Airport Corporation, and Airservices Australia and follows last year&rsquo;s inaugural flight.</li> <li>More than 50 female aviation students will network with the operating crew upon arrival.</li> </ul> <p><strong>Friday, 8 March 2024:&nbsp;</strong>Australia&rsquo;s first female pilot of a major airline, Deborah Lawrie AM, has taken the helm of a special Virgin Australia flight dispatched, operated, and managed by an all-female team in celebration of International Women&rsquo;s Day (IWD).</p> <p>For the second consecutive year, Virgin Australia took to the skies with VA313 from Melbourne to Brisbane which saw more than 30 women come together including female pilots, cabin crew, ground crew, baggage handlers, air traffic controllers, and a female pushback driver and refueller, in an industry collaboration between Virgin Australia, Melbourne Airport, Brisbane Airport Corporation, and Airservices Australia.</p> <p>Ms Lawrie operated the service almost 45 years after winning a landmark High Court discrimination case that paved the way for women to enter the profession. She was joined by training captain, Paley Williams, who has contributed to the training of countless pilots on Boeing 737 aircraft in her 21 years with the airline.</p> <p>The flight took off from Melbourne at 8:10am and touches down in Brisbane at 9:20am local time, with members of the operating crew going on to connect with more than 50 female aviation students at an IWD networking event to share their advice on kickstarting careers in aviation.</p> <p><strong>Virgin Australia Chief Executive Officer, Jayne Hrdlicka</strong>&nbsp;said the day was an opportunity to reflect on the progress that had been made and look towards the future.</p> <p>&ldquo;It was less than 45 years ago that we had no female pilots flying commercial jets in Australia, so to see this come to life with wonderful female role models at every touchpoint makes me tremendously proud of the achievements of women in aviation and how far we have come,&rdquo; Ms Hrdlicka said.</p> <p>&ldquo;Today is about inspiring the next generation of women and showcasing the diverse jobs aviation can offer so that we can continue to push for progress in our sector and drive greater gender equality, which is really at the heart of International Women&rsquo;s Day.&rdquo;</p> <p><strong>Virgin Australia First Officer, Deborah Lawrie</strong>&nbsp;said she was delighted to see more women pursue careers in aviation.</p> <p>&ldquo;To be in the company of so many remarkable women today celebrating together is a full circle moment, and it is one I hope serves as inspiration for people from all walks of life to pursue the many diverse and rewarding careers aviation can offer,&rdquo; she said.</p> <p><strong>Melbourne Airport CEO, Lorie Argus</strong>&nbsp;said the aviation industry is an exciting one that offers many opportunities to women.</p> <p>&ldquo;Women have come a long way in aviation. That&rsquo;s been thanks to pioneers like Deborah Lawrie who have forged a path for women to build successful careers in this industry beyond the more traditional roles &ndash; as we&rsquo;re showing with flight VA313 today,&rdquo; Ms Argus said.</p> <p><strong>Brisbane Airport Executive General Manager of Human Resources, Jane Dionysius</strong>&nbsp;said BNE was looking forward to inspiring female aviation students who will gather to view a live stream of the all-female flight and meet those who&rsquo;ve participated in the service.&nbsp;</p> <p>&ldquo;Deborah Lawrie is a trailblazer in Australia, not just for women in aviation. This flight is a great demonstration of the diversity of roles available to women in aviation, and the incredible lifelong careers that the industry offers.&quot;&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Airservices Australia Chief Executive Officer, Jason Harfield</strong>&nbsp;said the organisation was proud to support a second all-women crewed commercial flight, reminding us all of the breadth and scope of career options for women across the aviation industry.</p> <p>&ldquo;From our air traffic management services, to our Aviation Rescue Fire Fighting Service, our engineering roles, or to working with industry, there&rsquo;s a broad range of dynamic and flexible opportunities for women at Airservices,&rdquo; Mr Harfield said.</p> <p>&ldquo;For us, International Women&rsquo;s Day isn&rsquo;t just about celebrating diversity; it&rsquo;s about ensuring a safer and more inclusive sky, where all voices are heard and valued, enhancing the efficiency and safety of aviation for all.&rdquo;</p> <p>For current career opportunities with Virgin Australia, visit&nbsp;virginaustralia.com/careers.</p> </div> <div class="field-tweet"> <div class="tweetbutton-tweet tweetbutton"><a href="http://twitter.com/share" data-size="large" data-count="horizontal" data-via="" data-related="@virginaustralia:" data-text="Virgin Australia celebrates International Women’s Day with all-female flight operated by Deborah Lawrie" data-counturl="https://newsroom.virginaustralia.com/release/virgin-australia-celebrates-international-women%E2%80%99s-day-all-female-flight-operated-deborah" data-url="https://newsroom.virginaustralia.com/release/virgin-australia-celebrates-international-women%E2%80%99s-day-all-female-flight-operated-deborah" data-lang="en" class="twitter-share-button">Tweet</a></div> </div> Thu, 07 Mar 2024 23:06:30 +0000 Virgin Australia 1162 at https://newsroom.virginaustralia.com Cat's out of the bag: Virgin Australia signals intent to launch nation's first-ever pets in cabin flights https://newsroom.virginaustralia.com/release/cats-out-bag-virgin-australia-signals-intent-launch-nations-first-ever-pets-cabin-flights <div class="field-headline-image"> <img typeof="foaf:Image" src="https://newsroom.virginaustralia.com/sites/default/files/styles/article_header/public/VA_Pets%20in-flight.jpg" width="780" height="400" alt="" /> </div> <div class="field-body"> <p><a href="https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1rnnUZ4pewxvZf4UKjtAqpbRVkHMeS867?usp=drive_link">DOWNLOAD IMAGES</a>&nbsp;</p> <p><a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1zWd9ZWtHGC3XjslopXWEXJZ1ezYl5Niu/view?usp=drive_link">DOWNLOAD OVERLAY VISION</a></p> <p><a href="https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1St9n_Vf88tycgr0LoZ2pgTW6HMa0ma6z?usp=drive_link">DOWNLOAD AUDIO RELEASE</a></p> <p><a href="https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1ArB5e72LsXsftk1lhpYDV-M8LUWO_B8G?usp=drive_link">DOWNLOAD VIDEO NEWS RELEASE (VNR)</a></p> <p><strong>Thursday 7 March 2024:</strong> Virgin Australia has announced its intention to be the country&rsquo;s first airline to operate flights with pets onboard under a plan unveiled today.</p> <p>The Australian-first service, which will have pet-lovers rejoicing around the nation, is subject to regulatory approval, and is expected to launch within 12 months.</p> <p>In a social media survey of Virgin Australia&rsquo;s Facebook followers in 2021, 85 per cent of respondents voted in favour of the airline launching pets in cabin flights. In more recent research conducted by Virgin Australia with Australian pet owners, nearly 70 per cent of respondents advised they would travel with their pet in the cabin, with 57 per cent saying they would fly more regularly if the service was a reality.</p> <p>Almost all major carriers in North America offer a pets onboard service for domestic flights, including United Airlines and Air Canada.</p> <p><strong>Proposed pets in cabin in-flight experience</strong></p> <p>For the comfort of all guests, Virgin Australia has today announced a number of parameters for pets in cabin flights:</p> <p>The service will be limited to small cats and dogs on specific domestic routes;</p> <p>Pets will be restricted to a limited number of designated rows and will not be allowed to roam freely or sit on laps;</p> <p>Pets must also be carried in a Virgin Australia approved pet carrier under the seat in front of the owner for the duration of the flight.</p> <p><strong>CEO Commentary</strong></p> <p><strong>Speaking at a press conference at Melbourne Airport, Virgin Australia Group CEO, Jayne Hrdlicka</strong>, said Virgin Australia is thrilled to finally reveal its plans to be the first Australian airline to offer pets onboard flights.</p> <p>&ldquo;Our love for animals has always been in the Virgin Australia DNA and we are excited at the prospect of taking off with Australia&rsquo;s first-ever pets in cabin flights,&rdquo; said Ms Hrdlicka.</p> <p>&ldquo;Overwhelmingly, our guests tell us they want to travel with their pets, and we are now on a journey to make that a reality. It&rsquo;s something that commonly happens overseas and is proven to work well.</p> <p>&ldquo;Almost 70 per cent of Australian households have a pet, so this announcement is really significant for a large proportion of the country. It&rsquo;s also a great thing for pet-friendly accommodation providers who will benefit greatly from increased connectivity and the ease for travellers to fly with their pets. It really will be a whole new economy for pet travel in Australia.</p> <p>&ldquo;Pets on flights is another example of Virgin Australia leading the way with new and improved service offerings and first-to-market experiences for our guests.</p> <p>&ldquo;Innovation has always been a hallmark of Virgin Australia. We were the first airline in the country to offer online check-in. This year we were the first Australian airline to launch baggage tracking and a fully integrated self-service disruption management tool. It&rsquo;s this innovation and first-to-market drive that underpins who we are in the market,&rdquo; she said.</p> <p><strong>Melbourne Airport CEO, Lorie Argus</strong> said the airport was looking forward to helping Virgin Australia deliver the Australian-first.</p> <p>&ldquo;We&rsquo;ve been investing significant effort into providing relief areas for assistance animals and these facilities have ample capacity to serve Virgin Australia&rsquo;s new guests,&rdquo; she said.</p> <p>&ldquo;Animals being carried on board Virgin Australia flights will be required to remain in their approved pet carriers at all other times within the terminal.</p> <p>&ldquo;We expect the pets in cabin concept will prove a popular offering and we look forward to working with Virgin Australia to make it a reality.&rdquo;</p> <p>More details on pets in cabin flights, including available routes, and the cost for bringing a pet onboard, will be announced in due course.</p> <p><strong>No changes to assistance animals</strong></p> <p>The proposed pets in cabin flights will not result in any change to approved assistance animals being able to travel in the cabin of Virgin Australia aircraft at no additional cost. The existing procedure for assessing the eligibility of these assistance animals to travel onboard will not change. Additionally, Virgin Australia will continue to offer pets to be transported as cargo through approved pet carrier services, as this remains an important part of the Virgin Australia pet offering.</p> <p><strong>ENDS</strong></p> <p><strong>NOTES TO EDITORS</strong></p> <p>For the comfort of all guests and crew, pets will be limited to a small number of designated rows on eligible routes and will not be allowed to roam freely or sit on laps. Animals must also be carried in a Virgin Australia approved pet carrier under the seat in front of the owner for the duration of the flight.</p> <p>Virgin Australia will charge a fee for guests who are eligible to bring their pet onboard.</p> <p>The service is subject to regulatory approval and is likely to launch within 12 months, pending planning and stakeholder consultation.</p> <p>Virgin Australia will continue to offer pets to be transported as cargo through approved pet carrier services. More information, <a href="http://here">here.</a></p> <p>Approved assistance animals will continue to be able to travel in the cabin of Virgin Australia aircraft at no cost.</p> <p>Virgin Australia has always been an advocate of their furry guests transported in the cargo hold, such as:</p> <p>Chad the Virgin Australia Baggage Handler from Perth, turned dog whisperer, who talks to pets before he loads them onto flights. <a href="https://www.instagram.com/tv/Cc40C_blibr/?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==">View</a>.</p> <p>Pip, the stranded dachshund reunited with its owners following a global adventure amid the pandemic. <a href="https://newsroom.virginaustralia.com/release/virgin-australia-brings-stranded-pooch-home#:~:text=Every%20dog%20has%20its%20day,at%20Sydney%20Airport%20this%20week.">Read</a>.</p> <p><strong>Q&amp;A</strong></p> <p><strong>When will pets be accepted on VA flights?</strong></p> <p>It&rsquo;s a big project that&rsquo;s subject to regulatory approval and we expect the service will launch within the next 12 months. We will keep you updated once we know more. In the meantime, we will continue to offer pets to be transported as cargo through approved pet carrier services. More information,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.virginaustralia.com/au/en/travel-info/specific-travel/pets/">here</a>.</p> <p><strong>Will I be able to take my pet?</strong></p> <p>This will depend on what type of pet you own, its size and the route you are travelling on. We are still working through the specific rules of the service, but can confirm that only small dogs and cats will be allowed onboard, which must be able to fit comfortably in Virgin Australia approved pet carriers, stowed under the seat in front for the duration of the flight.</p> <p>Virgin Australia will continue to offer pets to be transported as cargo through approved pet carrier services. More information,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.virginaustralia.com/au/en/travel-info/specific-travel/pets/">here</a>.</p> <p><strong>I have allergies, will I be able to travel on VA?</strong></p> <p>It&rsquo;s really important to us that there is minimal impact to guests who are not carrying a pet, and for this reason we will be using the next few months to design a safe proposition with strict rules. Pets will be limited to a small number of designated rows and will not be allowed to roam freely or sit on laps.</p> <p>Cabin airflow dynamics (air circulating from top to bottom), the renewal of cabin air 20-30 times per hour and use of hospital grade HEPA filtration in our aircraft (which capture greater than 99% of airborne particles) mean the risk of allergy-triggering particles being circulated on-board is low. VA currently has robust systems for guests who have severe allergies to identify themselves via the MEDA process, so that risks for these guests can be mitigated and arrangements are put in place prior to travel.</p> <p>The service has worked effectively in North America and Europe for many years and we are confident we will do the same in Australia.</p> <p><strong>Why can&rsquo;t my pet sit on my lap?</strong></p> <p>It&rsquo;s really important to us that guests who are not carrying a pet are minimally impacted, and for this reason, and the safety of all guests and crew, pets will not be allowed to roam freely in the cabin or sit on their owner&rsquo;s lap.</p> <p><strong>How do I book my pet to travel with me? / How much will it cost? / Which routes is it available on?</strong></p> <p>We intend to work through these details in the coming months. Pending stakeholder feedback and regulatory approval, we anticipate we will launch pets in cabin flights within 12 months.</p> <p>Virgin Australia will continue to offer pets to be transported as cargo through approved pet carrier services. More information,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.virginaustralia.com/au/en/travel-info/specific-travel/pets/">here</a>.</p> <p><strong>Can my Assistance Dog continue to travel in the cabin at no cost?</strong></p> <p>There will be no change to the way assistance animals travel onboard Virgin Australia flights and we will continue to offer this service free of charge. If you intend to travel with an assistance animal, please see&nbsp;<a href="https://www.virginaustralia.com/au/en/travel-info/specific-travel/specific-needs-assistance/travelling-with-an-assistance-animal/">here </a>for more information.&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>FOOTNOTES</strong></p> <p>*In a survey by Animal Medicines Australia in 2022, it was found that 69 per cent of Australian households own a pet, with almost 29 million pets calling Australia home. Read the full report &ldquo;Pets in Australia: A survey of pets and people&rdquo;, <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1DzAYZnNGdbSs21rdMbRCfRc60PS7Z8A1/view?usp=drive_link">here</a>.</p> <p>** Virgin Australia market research in April 2023 of 643 Australian travellers. Out of the 426 pet owners, 286 selected more than zero to the question &quot;If it was allowed by the airline, how often would you most likely fly with your pet(s) in the cabin?&quot;.&nbsp; 164 pet owners selected they would take at least one extra return flight a year to the question &ldquo;Would being able to fly with your pet in the cabin increase the number of flights you take per year? - Selected Choice&rdquo;.</p> </div> <div class="field-tweet"> <div class="tweetbutton-tweet tweetbutton"><a href="http://twitter.com/share" data-size="large" data-count="horizontal" data-via="" data-related="@virginaustralia:" data-text="Cat&#039;s out of the bag: Virgin Australia signals intent to launch nation&#039;s first-ever pets in cabin flights" data-counturl="https://newsroom.virginaustralia.com/release/cats-out-bag-virgin-australia-signals-intent-launch-nations-first-ever-pets-cabin-flights" data-url="https://newsroom.virginaustralia.com/release/cats-out-bag-virgin-australia-signals-intent-launch-nations-first-ever-pets-cabin-flights" data-lang="en" class="twitter-share-button">Tweet</a></div> </div> Wed, 06 Mar 2024 22:54:33 +0000 Virgin Australia 1161 at https://newsroom.virginaustralia.com Virgin Australia Cabin Crew EA approved https://newsroom.virginaustralia.com/release/virgin-australia-cabin-crew-ea-approved <div class="field-headline-image"> <img typeof="foaf:Image" src="https://newsroom.virginaustralia.com/sites/default/files/styles/article_header/public/plane1.jpg" width="780" height="400" alt="" /> </div> <div class="field-body"> <p>Virgin Australia is pleased to confirm the approval of its Cabin Crew Enterprise Agreement (EA), with provisional results indicating an overwhelming 90 per cent voting Yes for the new EA. This is the first time in the history of the airline that the EA covering our domestic Cabin Crew has been approved on the first ballot and marks a significant milestone for Virgin Australia and our team members.</p> <p>The Agreement has the full support of both the TWU and FAAA and locks in higher salaries, new or improved allowances, overtime, and other work and lifestyle benefits for our Cabin Crew team members.&nbsp;</p> <p>This is a positive outcome for Virgin Australia team members and reflects our constructive negotiations with both unions.</p> <p>ENDS.&nbsp;</p> </div> <div class="field-tweet"> <div class="tweetbutton-tweet tweetbutton"><a href="http://twitter.com/share" data-size="large" data-count="horizontal" data-via="" data-related="@virginaustralia:" data-text="Virgin Australia Cabin Crew EA approved" data-counturl="https://newsroom.virginaustralia.com/release/virgin-australia-cabin-crew-ea-approved" data-url="https://newsroom.virginaustralia.com/release/virgin-australia-cabin-crew-ea-approved" data-lang="en" class="twitter-share-button">Tweet</a></div> </div> Wed, 28 Feb 2024 06:52:51 +0000 Virgin Australia 1160 at https://newsroom.virginaustralia.com Virgin Australia leadership to transition https://newsroom.virginaustralia.com/release/virgin-australia-leadership-transition <div class="field-headline-image"> <img typeof="foaf:Image" src="https://newsroom.virginaustralia.com/sites/default/files/styles/article_header/public/NSF23-0628-JRA-2382_resized.jpg" width="780" height="400" alt="" /> </div> <div class="field-body"> <p><strong>20 February 2024: </strong>Following on from a return to profitability in FY23 and a strong first half of FY24, Virgin Australia Holdings announces that Jayne Hrdlicka, with the Board&rsquo;s support, has decided now is the time to transition on from the role of CEO.</p> <p>After nearly four years of intensive work and transformation since the dual challenges of Administration and the onset of COVID-19, Jayne has decided that now is the right juncture to ensure that succession is in place to see the company through a future IPO and beyond.</p> <p>The Board of Virgin Australia will shortly commence a global search process for a new CEO.</p> <p>Ms Hrdlicka has led Virgin Australia as CEO since her appointment in 2020 after the airline was acquired out of Administration by Bain Capital and supported by Virgin Group during the COVID-19 pandemic, and guided the business out of the unprecedented period of lockdown and back into the skies.</p> <p>During this period the airline has been repositioned as a value carrier and rebuilt to deliver great choice and value to travellers while also returning the airline to profitability and a sustainable future. Our people have been the centrepiece of this period and have enabled a successful phase one to Virgin Australia&rsquo;s transformation. Virgin Australia is underway in the second phase of its transformation, targeting continued growth and margin expansion that will underpin ongoing investment in its customer proposition, secure its long-term financial sustainability, and strengthen its competitive position in the Australian market.</p> <p><strong>Comments from Virgin Australia CEO Jayne Hrdlicka:</strong></p> <p>&ldquo;I have decided the time is right for me to signal CEO transition for this great airline and ultimately to pass the baton on. This is not a decision I have taken lightly, but the last 4 years have been heavy lifting across the organisation during the toughest of times. We are in the midst of the next phase of our transformation program and there is a lot to do and an IPO to deliver. The next phase of this journey is another 3-5 years, making now the perfect juncture to begin the process of leadership transition to deliver the next few chapters of what I&rsquo;m sure will be a significant long-term success story.&rdquo;</p> <p>&ldquo;I am very proud of what the Virgin Australia team has&nbsp;accomplished together since the depths of Administration and the COVID-19 pandemic. I am honoured to have been given the opportunity to guide the team to this point on its journey, and I very much look forward to seeing the continued success of Virgin Australia.</p> <p>&ldquo;I would like to thank the Board, the executive team, and all of the 7,500 fantastic people at Virgin Australia. We have exceptional people throughout our great airline who will continue delivering award-winning service to travellers throughout Australia and strong returns to our shareholders. I would also like to thank Bain Capital as a major shareholder for their support and trust in me as I&rsquo;ve led the team over the last four years.&rdquo;</p> <p><strong>Comments from Virgin Australia Chairman Ryan Cotton:</strong></p> <p>&ldquo;Jayne has led Virgin Australia through the most turbulent times of its 20+ year history. Her leadership was fundamental to repositioning the airline back to its roots as a value carrier, returning Virgin Australia to profitability for the first time in 11 years.&nbsp; It has laid a strong foundation for continued growth and margin expansion that will underpin Virgin Australia&rsquo;s competitive position in the Australian market. To do this required a lot of heavy lifting and the rebuild of many parts of our organisation. A big part of this was resetting our talent pipeline for the long-term, which serves us very well now. These are significant achievements, and we will soon commence looking for a new CEO to continue our transformation journey.</p> <p>&ldquo;The Board and I respect Jayne&rsquo;s decision and know she is very committed to ensuring our continued success. We are grateful for her continued leadership while we plan for successful CEO transition.</p> <p>&ldquo;I&rsquo;d like to personally thank Jayne for her passion, commitment and dedication. The progress Virgin Australia has made to date is testament to her leadership. She will depart with our gratitude and best wishes for her future endeavours.&rdquo;</p> <p><strong>ENDS.</strong></p> </div> <div class="field-tweet"> <div class="tweetbutton-tweet tweetbutton"><a href="http://twitter.com/share" data-size="large" data-count="horizontal" data-via="" data-related="@virginaustralia:" data-text="Virgin Australia leadership to transition " data-counturl="https://newsroom.virginaustralia.com/release/virgin-australia-leadership-transition" data-url="https://newsroom.virginaustralia.com/release/virgin-australia-leadership-transition" data-lang="en" class="twitter-share-button">Tweet</a></div> </div> Tue, 20 Feb 2024 03:45:08 +0000 Virgin Australia 1159 at https://newsroom.virginaustralia.com Virgin Australia expands Aussie-first baggage tracking tool across entire domestic and international network* https://newsroom.virginaustralia.com/release/virgin-australia-expands-aussie-first-baggage-tracking-tool-across-entire-domestic-and <div class="field-headline-image"> <img typeof="foaf:Image" src="https://newsroom.virginaustralia.com/sites/default/files/styles/article_header/public/VA%20Baggage%20Tracking%20_app.jpg" width="780" height="400" alt="" /> </div> <div class="field-body"> <ul> <li>Virgin Australia has expanded its industry-leading baggage tracking tool to service all domestic and international routes*, including Queenstown, Bali, Fiji, Samoa, Vanuatu and Japan.</li> <li>In an offering not comparable to any other Australian airline, Virgin Australia guests will now receive notifications when their bag is ready to fly, loaded onto the aircraft and again when the luggage has arrived at the baggage carousel.</li> <li>The first-to-market technology which first launched on two-thirds of the airline&rsquo;s domestic network last year, has since been used approximately 1.3 million times by Australian travellers, with Virgin Australia having seen a 12 per cent increase in app downloads.</li> <li>To use the tool, guests can simply download the Virgin Australia app and enable push notifications. The Virgin Australia app can be downloaded for free, <a href="https://www.virginaustralia.com/au/en/travel-info/on-the-move/virgin-australia-app/">here</a>.</li> <li>Today&rsquo;s announcement forms part of Virgin Australia&rsquo;s more than $400 million investment in digital innovation, technology, and customer experience initiatives, which includes newly launched websites, apps, digital systems, reduced call-wait times^ and <a href="https://www.virginaustralia.com/au/en/book/manage-booking/rapid-rebook/">Rapid Rebook</a> &ndash; a tool for guests to self-manage their bookings end-to-end in the event of disruption.&nbsp;</li> </ul> <p><a href="https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1ilZ33j76t_TiZrhp5VJzeH_RdzEbNHhk?usp=sharing"><strong>DOWNLOAD IMAGES</strong></a></p> <p><a href="https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1pZaBxB4bQ41HXZx6w66wVVkwvVaydsSD?usp=sharing"><strong>DOWNLOAD VIDEO NEWS RELEASE (VNR)</strong></a></p> <p><strong>Wednesday 31 January 2024:</strong> Virgin Australia has taken another step to pioneer airline innovation and customer experience, today unveiling a significant expansion of its baggage tracking tool to include all domestic and international routes as well as additional tracking notifications for guests.</p> <p>As part of the expansion of the tool, which previously only included a portion of the airline&rsquo;s domestic network, customers can now track their baggage end-to-end via the Virgin Australia app, receiving push notifications when their baggage has been checked in, loaded onto the aircraft, transferred to a connecting carrier, and upon arrival. The tool also advises the baggage carousel for collection once the guest is at their final destination.</p> <p>The new &lsquo;loaded&rsquo; feature, confirming the baggage has been loaded onto the aircraft, is not available with any other Australian airline and gives customers further visibility and peace of mind when travelling.</p> <p>The tool is already proving to be popular, having been used more than 1.3 million times since it was first piloted in May 2023.</p> <p><strong>Virgin Australia Chief Customer &amp; Digital Officer, Paul Jones</strong>, said: &ldquo;Australians find comfort in the ability to track food deliveries, postal deliveries, technology, even their heart rate, all via apps, and it made sense for travellers to be able to do the same thing when flying Virgin Australia.&rdquo;</p> <p>&ldquo;By further enhancing our Australian-first baggage tracking technology to include all international services and additional notifications, we are giving guests the peace of mind to know where their baggage is at every step of the journey,&rdquo; said Mr Jones.</p> <p>&ldquo;We are committed to being Australia&rsquo;s most loved airline; and ensuring the safe passage of our customer&rsquo;s personal items is just another move in our mission to provide that extra level of service and care.</p> <p>&ldquo;Over the past 12 months we have delivered a series of significant customer improvements, including newly launched websites, apps, digital systems and Rapid Rebook &ndash; a tool for guests to self-manage their bookings end-to-end in the event of disruption. These advancements work to improve the customer experience and complement our consistently low call-wait times.</p> <p>&ldquo;We look forward to continuing to deliver industry-leading innovation to ensure our guests have a wonderful travel experience,&rdquo; he said.</p> <p><strong>Guests can track their checked baggage on select Virgin Australia services in three easy steps:</strong></p> <ul> <li><a href="https://www.virginaustralia.com/au/en/travel-info/on-the-move/virgin-australia-app/">Download the Virgin Australia app</a>.</li> <li>Enable push notifications via app settings.</li> <li>Once enabled, a series of push notifications will be sent to the guest&rsquo;s phone throughout the journey, including when the bag is checked-in, loaded onto the aircraft, transferred to an international partner airline, and available for collection at the final destination. The tool will also advise the guest which carousel the baggage is available for collection from.</li> </ul> <p>For more information on Virgin Australia&rsquo;s baggage tracking tool, visit <a href="https://www.virginaustralia.com/au/en/travel-info/baggage/baggage-tracking-faq/">here</a>. The Virgin Australia app can be downloaded for free, <a href="https://www.virginaustralia.com/au/en/travel-info/baggage/baggage-tracking-faq/">here</a>.</p> <p><strong>ENDS</strong></p> <p><strong>NOTES TO EDITOR</strong></p> <p>*Excluding Christmas and Coco Islands.</p> <p>^Virgin Australia call-wait times</p> <p>Following the implementation of several customer service innovations, Virgin Australia has seen call volumes reduce 11 per cent in 2023 to date compared to 2022, with average wait times significantly reduced from almost four minutes in 2022 to less than one minute in 2023.</p> <p><strong>Virgin Australia Rapid Rebook</strong></p> <p>As part of Virgin Australia&rsquo;s more than $400 million digital and customer investment, the airline recently launched Rapid Rebook &ndash; a fully integrated, self-service, disrupt management tool for guests impacted by a flight disruption.</p> <p>The tool allows guests to view revised flight details, explore alternate flight options (across a three-day window), and book accommodation and transport, all through the Virgin Australia app.</p> </div> <div class="field-tweet"> <div class="tweetbutton-tweet tweetbutton"><a href="http://twitter.com/share" data-size="large" data-count="horizontal" data-via="" data-related="@virginaustralia:" data-text="Virgin Australia expands Aussie-first baggage tracking tool across entire domestic and international network*" data-counturl="https://newsroom.virginaustralia.com/release/virgin-australia-expands-aussie-first-baggage-tracking-tool-across-entire-domestic-and" data-url="https://newsroom.virginaustralia.com/release/virgin-australia-expands-aussie-first-baggage-tracking-tool-across-entire-domestic-and" data-lang="en" class="twitter-share-button">Tweet</a></div> </div> Tue, 30 Jan 2024 21:44:05 +0000 Virgin Australia 1158 at https://newsroom.virginaustralia.com Virgin Australia set to increase regional network by nearly half in significant partnership expansion with Link Airways https://newsroom.virginaustralia.com/release/virgin-australia-set-increase-regional-network-nearly-half-significant-partnership-expansion <div class="field-headline-image"> <img typeof="foaf:Image" src="https://newsroom.virginaustralia.com/sites/default/files/styles/article_header/public/FC_Link%20Airways_Saab%20340B%20Plus_2.jpg" width="780" height="400" alt="" /> </div> <div class="field-body"> <ul> <li>Virgin Australia and Link Airways have today announced a new codeshare partnership set to expand Virgin Australia&rsquo;s regional footprint significantly, increasing Virgin Australia&rsquo;s reach into regional Australia.</li> <li>More than 90 services per week to be operated by Link Airways, with Virgin Australia codesharing on these services under the agreement, including services to Inverell, Wollongong, and Biloela which are not currently serviced by any other major airline.</li> <li>Velocity Frequent Flyer members will now be able to earn both Points and Status Credits on 17 new regional codeshare services. The new agreement will also open up a world of possibilities in connecting regional Australia to the wider Virgin Australia domestic network.</li> <li>Effective today, guests can book via Virgin Australia&rsquo;s travel agency partners, with fares on virginaustralia.com from March 2024.</li> </ul> <p><strong><a href="https://bit.ly/42avUP1">DOWNLOAD</a> VIDEO NEWS RELEASE (VNR)<br /> <a href="https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1YpU7zEvqR6zJTXn_I13L8suO_43M8H3p">DOWNLOAD</a> IMAGES</strong></p> <p><strong>Thursday, 18 January 2024: </strong>Regional Australians are set to benefit under a new codeshare partnership with Link Airways that will increase Virgin Australia&rsquo;s footprint in regional Australia from today by approximately 45 per cent.</p> <p>Seventeen new regional codeshare services operated by Link Airways, the equivalent of 90 flights per week, will be added to Virgin Australia&rsquo;s domestic network under the partnership. The flights will go on sale today through Virgin Australia&rsquo;s travel agency partners and will be available to book directly on the Virgin Australia website from March.</p> <p>The partnership will also bring added benefits to Velocity Frequent Flyer&rsquo;s almost 12 million members who will now be able to earn both Points and Status Credits on Virgin Australia codeshare services operated by Link Airways to some of the most important regional centres in the country. Velocity Platinum, Gold and Silver members will also earn bonus Points and receive an additional baggage allowance when travelling on any Virgin Australia codeshare service operated by Link Airways. Eligible Velocity members can also access Virgin Australia lounges when travelling on these Virgin Australia codeshare services.</p> <p>Virgin Australia customers will now be able to travel seamlessly for the first time to 42 Australian destinations on a single booking (with through check-in and baggage transfer), including destinations such as Inverell, Wollongong and Biloela, which are not serviced by any other major airline.</p> <p>New regional routes available as Virgin Australia codeshare (in both directions):</p> <ul> <li>Brisbane &lt;&gt; Coffs Harbour (BNE-CFS)</li> <li>Brisbane &lt;&gt; Bundaberg (BNE-BDB)</li> <li>Brisbane &lt;&gt; Biloela (BNE-ZBL)</li> <li>Brisbane &lt;&gt; Inverell (BNE-IVR)</li> <li>Brisbane &lt;&gt; Narrabri (BNE-NAA)</li> <li>Brisbane &lt;&gt; Dubbo (BNE-DBO)</li> <li>Brisbane &lt;&gt; Orange (BNE-OAG)</li> <li>Brisbane &lt;&gt; Tamworth (BNE-TMW)</li> <li>Brisbane &lt;&gt; Armidale (BNE-ARM)</li> <li>Brisbane &lt;&gt; Wollongong (BNE-WOL)</li> <li>Sydney &lt;&gt; Narrabri (SYD-NAA)</li> <li>Sydney &lt;&gt; Inverell (BNE-IVR)</li> <li>Melbourne &lt;&gt; Dubbo (MEL-DBO)</li> <li>Melbourne &lt;&gt; Orange (MEL-OAG)</li> <li>Melbourne &lt;&gt; Wollongong (MEL-WOL)</li> <li>Canberra &lt;&gt; Hobart (CBR-HBA)</li> <li>Canberra &lt;&gt; Newcastle (CBR-NTL)</li> </ul> <p><strong>Commentary from Virgin Australia Chief Strategy and Transformation Officer, Alistair Hartley:</strong></p> <p>&ldquo;Today&rsquo;s announcement in partnership with Link Airways underscores our commitment to delivering great value, flexibility and choice to Australians, and boosting connections for customers living in regional Australia,&rdquo; he said.</p> <p>&ldquo;Importantly, the partnership is also set to support regional trade and tourism in destinations like Inverell, Wollongong and Biloela, which are not currently serviced by any other major airline.</p> <p>&ldquo;Together, our networks will be operating up to 365 daily flights across Australia, offering 42 domestic destinations for guests to explore, all while ensuring guests can enjoy seamless connectivity and loyalty benefits under our award-winning Velocity Frequent Flyer program when they travel.&rdquo;</p> <p><strong>Commentary from Link Airways Chief Executive Officer, Andrew Major:</strong></p> <p>&ldquo;Link Airways is very pleased to join Virgin Australia in announcing this codeshare agreement which will provide significant additional travel opportunities to passengers Australia-wide, particularly those in regional areas. Benefits will include better connectivity and more choice for regional customers thanks to Virgin Australia&rsquo;s expansive route network.&rdquo;</p> <p><strong>ENDS</strong></p> <p><strong>NOTES TO THE EDITOR:</strong></p> <ul> <li>Link Airways operate a fleet of 14 aircraft with their service offering including complimentary tea, coffee and water.</li> <li>The partnership will enable travel agency partners (already with Virgin Australia ticketing authority) to access Link Airways services, through Virgin Australia&rsquo;s global distribution network, reach and selling capability.</li> <li>For detailed information on loyalty benefits when travelling with Link Airways, please visit the Velocity <a href="https://www.velocityfrequentflyer.com/partners-offers/airlines/link-airways">website here.</a></li> </ul> </div> <div class="field-tweet"> <div class="tweetbutton-tweet tweetbutton"><a href="http://twitter.com/share" data-size="large" data-count="horizontal" data-via="" data-related="@virginaustralia:" data-text="Virgin Australia set to increase regional network by nearly half in significant partnership expansion with Link Airways " data-counturl="https://newsroom.virginaustralia.com/release/virgin-australia-set-increase-regional-network-nearly-half-significant-partnership-expansion" data-url="https://newsroom.virginaustralia.com/release/virgin-australia-set-increase-regional-network-nearly-half-significant-partnership-expansion" data-lang="en" class="twitter-share-button">Tweet</a></div> </div> Wed, 17 Jan 2024 23:09:39 +0000 Virgin Australia 1157 at https://newsroom.virginaustralia.com Statement | Virgin Australia insourcing international ramp operations from early 2024 https://newsroom.virginaustralia.com/release/statement-virgin-australia-insourcing-international-ramp-operations-early-2024 <div class="field-headline-image"> <img typeof="foaf:Image" src="https://newsroom.virginaustralia.com/sites/default/files/styles/article_header/public/247A7237.jpg" width="780" height="400" alt="" /> </div> <div class="field-body"> <p>Virgin Australia is proud to confirm it will be insourcing its Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne international ramp (baggage handling) operations from early 2024. This complements existing insourced domestic ramp operations across mainline airports.&nbsp; This is both the economically rational decision, and core to our commitment to upskilling our people and providing more hours to team members who want them.</p> <p><strong>Virgin Australia General Manager Airport Experience Paul Woosnam</strong> said Virgin Australia&rsquo;s short-haul international operation plays an important role in delivering value and choice to our customers, with 10-12 flights a day from Australia to six destinations across the Asia-Pacific region.</p> <p>&ldquo;There are plans to grow in this area as we receive our new fleet of fuel-efficient aircraft, presenting great opportunities for Virgin Australia, as well as opportunities for our people to grow and develop,&rdquo; Mr Woosnam said.</p> <p>&quot;Our decision to insource these roles demonstrates Virgin Australia&rsquo;s commitment to further expand our workgroup and deliver additional work and career opportunities. We previously committed to review all opportunities that made good business sense, and this is a great example of our business delivering opportunities for our shareholders and our people.&rdquo;</p> <p>ENDS</p> </div> <div class="field-tweet"> <div class="tweetbutton-tweet tweetbutton"><a href="http://twitter.com/share" data-size="large" data-count="horizontal" data-via="" data-related="@virginaustralia:" data-text="Statement | Virgin Australia insourcing international ramp operations from early 2024 " data-counturl="https://newsroom.virginaustralia.com/release/statement-virgin-australia-insourcing-international-ramp-operations-early-2024" data-url="https://newsroom.virginaustralia.com/release/statement-virgin-australia-insourcing-international-ramp-operations-early-2024" data-lang="en" class="twitter-share-button">Tweet</a></div> </div> Wed, 20 Dec 2023 23:54:03 +0000 Virgin Australia 1156 at https://newsroom.virginaustralia.com Virgin Australia outlines opportunities to improve Australia's aviation industry https://newsroom.virginaustralia.com/release/virgin-australia-outlines-opportunities-improve-australias-aviation-industry <div class="field-headline-image"> <img typeof="foaf:Image" src="https://newsroom.virginaustralia.com/sites/default/files/styles/article_header/public/NSF23-0628-JRA-2382_resized.jpg" width="780" height="400" alt="" /> </div> <div class="field-body"> <p><strong>18 December 2023: </strong>Virgin Australia has today released its response to the Government&rsquo;s Aviation Green Paper. In it, the airline highlights a number of policy and regulatory recommendations aimed at driving competition and creating a sustainable aviation sector for the benefit of Australians now and into the future.</p> <p><strong>Key recommendations include:</strong></p> <ul> <li>Support for the aviation industry&rsquo;s contribution to net zero. Prioritising policy development and initiatives, like Sustainable Aviation Fuel Accounting (&lsquo;Book and Claim&rsquo;) to allow airlines (and customers) to procure the environmental benefits of SAF without current geographical constraints, in parallel with the development of a domestic SAF industry.</li> <li>Increasing airline competition through strong regulatory oversight and enforcement where anti-competitive behaviour is identified, along with more equitable government procurement.</li> <li>A fit-for-purpose framework for negotiations between monopoly airports and airlines of all sizes to support an even playing field, including an enforceable &lsquo;negotiate/arbitrate&rsquo; model.</li> <li>Assisting airline operational reliability by addressing challenges at Australia&rsquo;s main gateway airport, Sydney Airport, in particular the crosswind limit on the main parallel runway.</li> <li>Greater transparency, consultation and certainty with respect to bilateral air rights agreements, and recognising the connection between international competition and domestic operations.</li> </ul> <p>In its detailed submission, Virgin Australia also makes recommendations on a broad range of topics including improving the customer experience as well as slot allocation and compliance.</p> <p><strong>Commentary from Virgin Australia Chief Corporate Affairs and Sustainability Officer, Christian Bennett:&nbsp;</strong></p> <p>&ldquo;Aviation is a major economic and social contributor, responsible for keeping communities connected across Australia and beyond. Virgin Australia welcomes the important opportunity to contribute to improving regulatory and policy settings to support a safe, sustainable and competitive aviation industry for decades to come.</p> <p>&ldquo;Our submission highlights the importance of vibrant competition in our industry, both among airlines and in our engagement with airports, and the critical need to address market power imbalances to ensure Australians can access great value and choice when they travel.</p> <p>&ldquo;We also recognise the industry&rsquo;s future success will increasingly depend on its ability to decarbonise. From a policy perspective, this must be done in a way that maintains a level playing field, and ensures air travel remains affordable for consumers.</p> <p>&ldquo;While Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) will play a critical longer-term role, domestic production is currently years away, at best. We believe there are viable solutions to bridge this physical gap in the short-term, including through a &lsquo;Book and Claim&rsquo; system.&nbsp;</p> <p>&ldquo;This system should be explored as a priority &ndash; in parallel with efforts to support domestic production - to bridge the supply gap and deliver the environmental benefits of SAF to the Australian aviation industry in the short-term,&rdquo; he said.</p> <p>Virgin Australia&rsquo;s submission is available to read <a href="https://www.infrastructure.gov.au/sites/default/files/documents/agp2023-submission-c223-virgin-australia.pdf">here</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> </div> <div class="field-tweet"> <div class="tweetbutton-tweet tweetbutton"><a href="http://twitter.com/share" data-size="large" data-count="horizontal" data-via="" data-related="@virginaustralia:" data-text="Virgin Australia outlines opportunities to improve Australia&#039;s aviation industry" data-counturl="https://newsroom.virginaustralia.com/release/virgin-australia-outlines-opportunities-improve-australias-aviation-industry" data-url="https://newsroom.virginaustralia.com/release/virgin-australia-outlines-opportunities-improve-australias-aviation-industry" data-lang="en" class="twitter-share-button">Tweet</a></div> </div> Mon, 18 Dec 2023 05:56:09 +0000 Virgin Australia 1155 at https://newsroom.virginaustralia.com