MELBOURNE – Emirates has launched a travel pass that will offer overseas visitors discounted travel to 22 additional destinations within Australia, travelling from 99 global destinations.
The Emirates Visit Australia Pass will allow passengers travelling with Emirates to Australia to extend their journey to a choice of 22 further destinations, flying with Virgin Blue at reduced costs.
In its media statement, Emirates did not offer a guide to what those reduced costs would be.
The launch of the pass follows the recent interline agreement between Emirates and Virgin Blue to provide a seamless, single ticket option for travellers flying between the additional cities and regional towns that Virgin Blue flies to within Australia and Emirates’ global network.
The Emirates Visit Australia Pass must be issued in combination with return flights on Emirates to Australia on a single ticket provided the international return journey originates outside Australia and New Zealand.
A minimum of two and a maximum of four domestic Virgin Blue flights can be combined with Emirates flights.
Ticketing must be completed by March 31, 2010 and travel should conclude within the validity period of the international ticket.
Emirates vice president Australia, Stephen Pearse, said, “The Emirates Visit Australia Pass is a positive development for the Australian tourism industry as it offers an easy incentive for overseas travellers to see more of Australia, outside of the main centres, and therefore potentially stay longer.”
Pearse said Emirates’ move to sell this product via travel agents worldwide was “giving back to the local industry through added support for inbound business”.
