V Australia announces direct Brisbane Los Angeles flights

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.”

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.”

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.”

Premier Bligh added, “Providing direct access for US travellers to Brisbane is going to be critical in luring more visitors to experience the attractions of South East Queensland and then travel onwards to other world famous Queensland destinations like Cairns and the Whitsundays via Virgin Blue’s domestic flights.”

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