The Virgin Australia Group today announced plans to optimise its international network to deliver improved fleet utilisation and meet customer demand on key trans-Tasman and short-haul international routes.

Tigerair Australia:

The Tigerair Australia brand will launch in the short-haul international market with Denpasar (Bali) as its first international destination to enable the Group to better cater to the changing dynamics in the region.

From 23 March 2016, Tigerair Australia will use three all economy configured Boeing 737-800 aircraft to offer the following services to Denpasar (Bali), subject to relevant regulatory and operational approvals being secured:

Adelaide-Denpasar: five return services per week
Melbourne-Denpasar: daily return services
Perth-Denpasar: daily return services
Members of Virgin Australia’s loyalty program Velocity Frequent Flyer will be able to redeem Velocity Points for seats on Tigerair Australia services to Denpasar.

Virgin Australia route withdrawals:

From 23 March 2016, Virgin Australia will withdraw from the following routes:

Adelaide-Denpasar: five return services per week
Melbourne-Denpasar: daily return services
Perth-Denpasar: eight return services per week
The last flights on these routes will operate on 22 March 2016.

From 1 February 2016, Virgin Australia will withdraw from the Perth-Phuket route, with the last flight operating on 31 January 2016.

These changes will be effective in Virgin Australia’s booking system from 10am AEST today, Friday 7 August 2015. Customers who have already booked on these services for travel after the last flights will be contacted by their travel provider with alternative options.

Virgin Australia will continue to operate to Denpasar from Sydney, Brisbane and Port Hedland.

Virgin Australia route increases:

From 25 October 2015 onwards, Virgin Australia will increase capacity into New Zealand, in conjunction with our alliance partner Air New Zealand. Virgin Australia will also increase capacity to Fiji and the Solomon Islands to meet customer demand.

These increases represent more than 52,000 additional seats on trans-Tasman and Pacific routes during the 2016 financial year.

Additional capacity to be operated by Virgin Australia:

Sydney-Christchurch: addition of two return services per week from 25 October 2015
Melbourne-Christchurch: addition of one return service per week from 6 November 2015
Additional seasonal capacity to be operated by Virgin Australia:

Brisbane-Auckland: addition of one return service per week between 26 October 2015 and 13 December 2015, two return services per week between 14 December 2015 and 24 January 2016, and one return service per week between 29 February 2016 and 27 March 2016
Brisbane-Dunedin: addition of one service per week from 18 December 2015 to 22 January 2016
Brisbane-Wellington: addition of one service per week from 14 December 2015 to 24 January 2016
Brisbane-Christchurch: addition of one service per week from 14 December 2015 to 24 January 2016
Brisbane-Apia: addition of one service per week from 16 December 2015 to 13 January 2016
Brisbane-Honiara: addition of one service per week from 22 June 2015 to 25 January 2016
Brisbane-Nadi: addition of one service per week between 12 December 2015 and 23 January 2016
Sydney-Nadi: upgrade of Saturday Boeing 737-800 services to Airbus A330 services from 20 June 2015 to 24 October 2015 and from 12 December 2015 to 23 January 2016. An additional Boeing 737-800 service will also operate on Saturday 26 December 2015 and Saturday 3 January 2016.