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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.

Virgin Australia Airlines Pty Ltd.
IATA ICAO Callsign
VA[N 1] VOZ VELOCITY
Founded29 August 2000 (2000-08-29)
(as Virgin Blue)
Commenced operations4 May 2011 (2011-05-04)
(as Virgin Australia)
AOC #CASA.AOC.0010
Hubs
Secondary hubs
Focus cities
Frequent-flyer programVelocity
SubsidiariesVirgin Australia Regional Airlines
Fleet size91
Destinations44
Parent companyVirgin Australia Holdings
HeadquartersSouth Bank, Queensland, Australia
Key peopleJayne Hrdlicka (CEO)
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 an Australian airline, with core features of a low-cost carrier along with some elements of full-service airlines. 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 as 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, 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 is 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 would focus on being a mid-market "hybrid" carrier.[11]

On 26 June 2024, Qatar Airways, wholly owned by the State of Qatar, announced its intentions to purchase a major stake in Virgin Australia, said to be around 20%.[12] According to Australia's metric regarding foreign investment in critical services, the proposed investment by Qatar Airways is substantial to a level where it could be against Australia's national interest,[13] hence requires screening and approval by Australia's Foreign Investment Review Board.[12]

  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.
  12. ^ a b Schlappig, Ben (26 June 2024). "Qatar Airways May Invest In Virgin Australia". One Mile at a Time. Retrieved 27 June 2024.
  13. ^ "AUSTRALIA'S FOREIGN INVESTMENT POLICY" (PDF).


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