Australia’s newest international airline, V Australia, has announced it will launch direct flights between Brisbane, Queensland and Los Angeles, California, from early next year.
Queensland Premier, the Hon. Anna Bligh, joined V Australia Executive General Manager, Scott Swift, to reveal the news while on a site tour of Virgin Blue’s soon-to-be-opened brand new Head Office in Brisbane.
Brisbane-Los Angeles is the second route to be announced for V Australia which will take off on its inaugural flight between Sydney and Los Angeles on 15th December 2008^.
V Australia will launch three flights a week between Brisbane and Los Angeles from 1st March 2009^. The carrier will operate Boeing 777-300ER aircraft configured to a three class cabin offering International Business Class, International Premium Economy Class and International Economy class.
V Australia Executive General Manager, Scott Swift, said, “We are excited to announce Brisbane as V Australia’s second destination. This will be tremendous for Virgin Blue’s home state of Queensland and will bring new opportunities for Queenslanders to travel to the USA. Importantly, it will also provide a direct link from the USA to Queensland and with that, increased business and tourism dollars for the state.â€
V Australia will direct its third 777-300ER aircraft to the Brisbane-Los Angeles route and carried out extensive research before deciding to commit the resources to operating a trans-Pacific flight to and from Brisbane. Only one other airline currently operates direct services between the two cities, making it ripe for competition.
Scott Swift continued, “Sydney-LA may be the busiest route between Australia and Los Angeles but V Australia is also eager to give the Brisbane-Los Angeles route a red hot go and we are keen to help ramp up visitor numbers to the state of Queensland.â€
Queensland Premier, Anna Bligh said, “I am delighted that V Australia has identified the Brisbane-LA route as having strong potential in terms of passenger growth and we welcome V Australia’s vote of confidence in Queensland. Virgin Blue has already delivered significant benefits to this state in terms of domestic tourism and resulting business and economic spin-off’s. No doubt, the new V Australia direct flight will do the same.â€
V Australia will initially introduce three direct flights a week between Brisbane and LA on a Wednesday, Friday and Sunday and is confident its attractive fares, convenient direct flight and Virgin style product and people will prove a successful formula.
To kick off the new service, V Australia today announced 1,234 economy seats from 19 destinations in Australia to Los Angeles (via Brisbane or Sydney) for the return fare of $1234* return inclusive of all taxes and charges of approximately $415 (available only on the Internet).
The sale fare is available from 2pm today until sold out.
Every day return economy fares will start from $2087 return which is 17% lower than the current lowest available published fare on the route for the same travel period (as at 9am Friday 4 July 2008).
V Australia is currently undergoing a recruitment drive for International Cabin Crew in preparation for the upcoming launch and also recently commissioned a $14-million 777-300ER aircraft simulator to conduct pilot training in Sydney.
For V Australia Airlines bookings, log on to www.vaustralia.com.au or via www.virginblue.com.au, call 138 287 or through travel agents.
A Report by The Mole
