New services on sale tomorrow

Virgin Australia will launch services from Melbourne to Los Angeles and Perth to Abu Dhabi in 2017, increasing competition and choice for Australian travellers.

On 4 April 2017, Virgin Australia will introduce five services each week between Melbourne and Los Angeles using Boeing 777-300ER aircraft.* On 9 June 2017, Virgin Australia will introduce three services each week between Perth and Abu Dhabi using Airbus A330-200 aircraft.* 

Virgin Australia Group CEO John Borghetti said: “The United States is a key market for Virgin Australia and this enables us to service Los Angeles from the three biggest gateways in Australia – Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney.

“In partnership with Delta Air Lines, we will soon offer 25 services each week from Australia to Los Angeles and remain the only trans-Pacific alliance to offer Business Class guests lie flat beds with direct aisle access on all services.

“Our A330 aircraft will be deployed on a long-haul international route for the first time on flights between Perth and Abu Dhabi, which increases the number of services offered on the route from seven to 10 per week through our alliance with Etihad Airways.”

To enable the introduction of services between Melbourne and Los Angeles, Virgin Australia will cease its three times weekly Sydney-Abu Dhabi flights after 4 February 2017 and will reduce Brisbane-Los Angeles flights from seven per week to six per week from 7 April 2017.

Virgin Australia customers will continue to have the option of twice daily flights between Sydney and Abu Dhabi, with alliance partner Etihad Airways to add three new weekly services on the route in February 2017.

Virgin Australia’s award-winning Business Class experience ‘The Business’ is available across the airline’s entire A330 and B777 fleet. Key features of ‘The Business’ include:
 Individual and private  suites in a 1-2-1 configuration that enables 100 per cent direct aisle access and convert into the length of a queen size bed;
 The latest in in-flight comfort and a turndown service with memory foam mattress toppers and high-grade cotton pillows and doonas;
 Luke Mangan-designed menus paired with premium wines and delivered in a fine dining experience through à la carte or Express Dining options to suit each guest’s preference; and
 The largest in-flight entertainment screen (18-inch High Definition touch screen) flying between Australia and North America on the 777 aircraft and a large 16-inch High Definition touch screen on the A330 aircraft.

* Subject to regulatory approvals

Key Facts

From April 2017, Virgin Australia’s alliance with Delta Air Lines, which was formed in 2011, will offer 25 services from Australia to the United States each week (14x Sydney, 6x Brisbane and 5x Melbourne) using Boeing 777 aircraft. Through the alliance, Australian travellers have access to 230 Delta destinations in North and Central America. Delta codeshares to 17 Australian, New Zealand and Indonesian destinations offered by Virgin Australia.

From June 2017, Virgin Australia’s alliance with Etihad Airways, which was formed in 2010, will offer 45 services from Australia to the UAE each week (7x Brisbane, 14x Melbourne, 10x Perth and 14x Sydney) using Boeing 787-9, Boeing 777-300ER, Airbus A380-800 and Airbus A330-200 aircraft. Through the alliance, Australian travellers have access to 81 Etihad destinations, including 23 destinations within Europe, 15 destinations within the Middle East and 10 destinations in Africa. Etihad codeshares to 45 Australian and New Zealand destinations offered by Virgin Australia.

New Long Haul International services

Melbourne – Los Angeles (from Tuesday 4 April 2017)
VA 23 Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday, Sunday
1130 STD 0900 STA

Los Angeles – Melbourne (from Tuesday 4 April 2017)
VA 24 Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday
2110 STD  0600 +2 STA

Perth – Abu Dhabi (from Friday 9 June 2017)
VA 11 Tuesday, Friday, Sunday
2305 STD 0635 +1 STA

Abu Dhabi – Perth (from Saturday 10 June 2017)
VA 12 Monday, Wednesday, Saturday
0820 STD 2325 STA

Current Long Haul International services

Sydney – Los Angeles
VA 1 Daily service (no change)
0950 STD 0630 STA

Los Angeles – Sydney
VA 2 Daily service (no change)
2235 STD 0620 +2 STA

Brisbane – Los Angeles
VA 7 Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday
1050STD 0655 STA (no change)
VA 9 Sunday
2130 STD 1735 STA (retimed from Sunday 9 April 2017)
VA 7 will no longer operate on Mondays from Monday 10 April 2017

Los Angeles – Brisbane
VA 8 Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Sunday
2350 STD 0650 +2 STA (no change)
VA 6 Saturday
1115 STD 1815 +1 STA (retimed from Saturday 8 April 2017)
VA 8 will no longer operate on Fridays from Friday 7 April 2017