Virgin Australia

"Virgin Blue" redirects here. For the single by Japanese hip-hop group Lead, see Virgin Blue (song).
For the holding company that owns Virgin Australia, see Virgin Australia Holdings.
Not to be confused with Virgin Atlantic.

Virgin Australia Airlines Pty Ltd.
IATA ICAO Call sign
VA[N 1] VOZ VELOCITY
Founded29 August 2000; 24 years ago (2000-08-29)
(as Virgin Blue)
Commenced operations4 May 2011; 13 years ago (2011-05-04)
(as Virgin Australia)
AOC #CASA.AOC.0010
Hubs
Secondary hubs
Focus cities
Frequent-flyer programVelocity
SubsidiariesVirgin Australia Regional Airlines
Fleet size92
Destinations36
Parent companyVirgin Australia Holdings (Majority-foreign-owned)
HeadquartersSouth Bank, Queensland, Australia
Key people
Founders
RevenueIncrease A$5.4 billion (2018) [2]
Operating incomeIncrease A$109.6 million (2018) [2]
Total assetsDecrease A$6.2 billion (2018) [2]
Total equityDecrease A$1.1 billion (2018) [2]
Websitewww.virginaustralia.com

Virgin Australia is a majority-foreign-owned Australia-based airline with the core features of a low-cost carrier along with some elements of a full-service airline. It is one of two active airlines (the other being Virgin Atlantic) to use the Virgin brand, as well as the larger by fleet size. It commenced services on 31 August 2000 as Virgin Blue, with two aircraft on a single route.[3] It suddenly found itself becoming a major airline in Australia's domestic market after the collapse of Ansett Australia in September 2001. As of June 2024, the airline serves 33 Australian destinations with its Boeing 737 MAX and Boeing 737 Next Generation fleets from its hubs in Brisbane, Melbourne, and Sydney.[4]

The airline also operates a limited number of short-haul international flights.[5] Australian law prohibits majority-foreign-owned local airlines, like Virgin Australia, from operating international flights to and from Australia.[6] However, Virgin Australia evades this law by operating international flights through a controversial 'shell corporation' structure, a practice that is not illegal but has been widely criticised across Australia's aviation industry.[7]

The airline's headquarters are based in South Bank, Queensland. It was co-founded by British businessman Richard Branson (the founder of Virgin Group), and former CEO Brett Godfrey.

In 2011, the airline went through a period of transformation, changing its brand to Virgin Australia.[8] This included the introduction of a new aircraft livery, new uniforms, and new onboard menu options, as well as a business class product, which Virgin Blue did not have. New wide-body aircraft were acquired to compete with Qantas, and business class was rolled out across the Virgin Australia network.[3]

On 21 April 2020, Virgin Australia Holdings went into voluntary administration, due to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and financial troubles in the years leading up to the pandemic.[9] On 26 June 2020, it was announced that Bain Capital had entered into a sale and implementation deed with administrator Deloitte to acquire Virgin Australia.[10] Creditors agreed to this proposal on 4 September 2020, with the reorganisation and change of ownership completed on 17 November. The airline announced that as part of its relaunch, it would focus on being a mid-market "hybrid" carrier.[11]

On 1 October 2024, Qatar Airways announced intentions to purchase a 25% stake in Virgin Australia.

  1. ^ "System Changes". Virgin Australia. Archived from the original on 27 September 2015. Retrieved 4 January 2013.
  2. ^ a b c d "FY18 Results Presentation" (PDF). Virgin Australia Airlines. Archived from the original (PDF) on 13 December 2019. Retrieved 11 March 2019.
  3. ^ a b "Virgin Australia History". Virgin Australia Airlines. Retrieved 9 April 2019.
  4. ^ "Virgin Australia Domestic Route Map". Virgin Australia Airlines. Archived from the original on 29 December 2019. Retrieved 10 March 2019.
  5. ^ "Where does Virgin Australia fly?". www.virginaustralia.com. Retrieved 27 June 2024.
  6. ^ "Designation as an Australian international airline - International Air Services Information Memorandum, Australian Government Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications".
  7. ^ Hatch, Patrick (11 January 2021). "Virgin to use shell company loophole to sidestep foreign ownership cap". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 8 July 2024.
  8. ^ "Virgin Blue to relaunch today as Virgin Australia". Australian Business Traveller. 4 May 2011.
  9. ^ "Virgin Australia enters voluntary administration". Virgin Australia Newsroom. 21 April 2020. Archived from the original on 20 April 2020. Retrieved 21 April 2020.
  10. ^ "Bain wins Virgin bid, Cyrus launches broadside". Australian Financial Review. 25 June 2020. Retrieved 26 June 2020.
  11. ^ "Virgin Australia relaunches as mid-market 'hybrid' airline". Business Traveller. 19 November 2020. Retrieved 14 March 2024.


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