The carrier is steadily rebuilding its overseas network with more Australian cities linked to Bali and the South Pacific.
Virgin Australia will reintroduce direct international flights from Adelaide to Bali from 14 December, with daily services from the South Australian capital now available.
Jetstar is currently enjoying a daily monopoly on flights between Adelaide and Bali but will again see competition on the route from the Bain Capital charger.
Virgin will fly daily between the two cities until at least until the end of January before reverting to a three-times weekly schedule, which could of course change if demand sufficed.
The addition of Adelaide marks the fifth Australian city Virgin will serve with direct flights to the Indonesian hotspot, with Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne already operating and the first link between the Gold Coast and Denpasar taking off from 29 March 2023.
Once the new Gold Coast route takes off, Virgin will offer 41 direct flights between Australia and Bali each week.
“The return of our direct services between Adelaide and Denpasar is a reflection of the growing demand we continue to see for Bali since relaunching from Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne earlier this year,” said Virgin Australia Group Chief Strategy & Transformation Officer, Alistair Hartley.
The return of direct Bali flights from Adelaide will also give South Australians another reason to utilise Plaza Premium’s new Adelaide Airport lounge – expected to be open by the time Virgin takes off for the Indonesian island.
Of course, Velocity Gold, Platinum and ‘Beyond’ tiered members heading to Bali will also be able to enjoy Virgin’s youthful lounge, itself less than two years old.
Virgin has been ruffling feathers across the aviation marketplace in recent weeks, confirming it will reintroduce inflight WiFi for business class and Platinum Velocity members by the end of 2022.
Despite all the positive signs, Virgin Australia CEO Jayne Hrdlicka will be the first to squash any suggestions the airline is growing too fast, having reaffirmed the airline’s focus on a strong domestic network and baby steps into foreign markets.
Virgin Australia is also gearing up to expand its reach into the South Pacific from next year, with a return to Vanuatu and Samoa, known for their relaxed vibes and natural beauty, locked in for March 2023.
Virgin dipped its toe back into the Pacific in December 2021, restarting direct flights from Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane to Fiji. Since then, tens of thousands of overseas travellers have visited the tropical paradise, proving there’s a more than healthy appetite.
Direct services between Brisbane and Vanuatu’s capital of Port Vila will initially jet off up to five times a week from March 10, with a thrice-weekly service from Sydney to follow from March 21.
Apia, Samoa will see a twice-weekly Brisbane connection begin on March 23, while Virgin will return to New Zealand with direct flights from Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne to Queenstown from November.
The airline’s much-hyped partnership with United Airlines, which replaced its former stable mate Delta Air Lines on June 12, is also now in full swing, unlocking an extensive network in the United States and onwards to South America.
Virgin Australia is taking a slow and steady approach to the rebuild of its international network, with destinations currently limited by its short haul Boeing 737-800 fleet. The options will greatly increase when its first 737 MAX 8 – boasting a significantly higher range – joins the ranks in February 2023.
When it arrives, the MAX 8 will also mark an evolution of Virgin’s fleet and onboard passenger experience, with new business class and economy seats expected to debut on the next-gen jet.
Qantas – Qantas Frequent Flyer
09 Feb 2015
Total posts 351
Virgin have also announced flights from the Gold Coast to Bali.
07 Mar 2022
Total posts 43
Business Class on the Golden Triangle is ok (great) once you start doing longer than that you need better seats. QF all the way in at least an A330 Business Class, ask an air warrior about VA business or economy to Bali you might as well save the money and take Jetstar and use an American Express lounge.
24 Aug 2011
Total posts 1133
Apart from the fact that QF also uses its 737s to DPS, I think VA have been very clear that they have no intention of getting anything bigger than a 737 in their fleet for the foreseeable future. They also have indicated that the J class seat on future 737s will continue to be a recliner and be the same J seat they have been trialling on 2 ex-Silkair 737-800s.
24 Aug 2011
Total posts 1133
I did a comparison for MEL-DPS in J class in October. Jetstar and Virgin are not dissimilar in their J class pricing with both between $1400 and $1600 return in October for an afternoon departure with a 787 for JQ and 737 for VA The really questionable value is QF charging $2600 for a very similar departure time also on a 737.
Qantas – Qantas Frequent Flyer
09 Feb 2015
Total posts 351
The reality is it’s just not value with QF, especially when on the same aircraft/seat type.
The only thing VA are yet to announce, is when their international lounges will open.
Qantas – Qantas Frequent Flyer
09 Feb 2015
Total posts 351
Agree, QF A330’s are as good as it gets on a domestic business class flight, but they don’t have enough of them operating domestically because they are needed for international operations.
I have a flight booked in November from Brisbane to Perth in business, and just today the aircraft has been changed to a B737.
24 Aug 2011
Total posts 1133
As well as being limited in the number of A330s available for domestic services, Qantas also understands that customers often value frequency more than the size of the aircraft so there is more value in operating a 737 on a route like BNE-PER 3 or 4 times a day compared with an A330 only 2 times a day.
26 Aug 2019
Total posts 5
Virgin are operating Brisbane – Port Vila (5x week) and Brisbane – Apia (2x week). Sydney is to Apia not Port Vila and is 3x week. You have Sydney round wrong way in article
Virgin Australia – Velocity Rewards
15 Oct 2018
Total posts 2
Does anyone have any insights on when VA is expanding their trans Tasman destinations such as Auckland/Wellington/ChCh? Demand appears to be there?
24 Aug 2011
Total posts 1133
I get the impression they are not too keen to return to AKL, WLG etc. VA realise they will always be minnows on these routes compared with NZ and QF which means they will be price takers. As REX is finding out, being a price taking minnow is not a recipe for success.
30 Mar 2022
Total posts 2
Is anyone aware of VA plans regarding international flights in or out of Cairns?
Virgin Australia – Velocity Rewards
24 Jan 2018
Total posts 587
I’m flying to BNE-DPS this weekend, will gladly report back here on the inflight experience. Ahead of which, so far, no-one I’ve called at Velocity has been able to say whether (or not) the seats have USB charging ports. I’ll keep asking, but that’s a worry when Lounge staff have no idea. Thoughts, anyone ???
Virgin Australia – Velocity Rewards
24 Jan 2018
Total posts 587
Our flight had them, but they’re dependent upon being ‘turned on’ by cabin staff (they light up blue when they’re on). It was over a half hour into the flight before they were turned on. They’re in the back of the armrest of the seat in front (good spot).
19 Jun 2020
Total posts 21
Did BNE-DPS on VA the other week. Yes they have USB charging ports on after takeoff. We did Space X for around $40pp each way and had priority boarding w that (or was it silver tier IDK). $1200 for 2 return all up. Problem was that it gets in at 2230 which is quite late. Sitting on the beach in Seminyak seeing all the JQ craft arriving mid afternoon made me a bit jealous of the schedule, but at least VA weren’t cancelling 🙂
29 Mar 2017
Total posts 27
Slightly off topic – but just booked flights to New Zealand in J next year on VA. Any idea what lounges they are using in Melbourne and Sydney? Can’t find any reference anywhere!
19 Jun 2020
Total posts 21
Did BNE-DPS on VA the other week. Yes they have USB charging ports on after takeoff. We did Space X for around $40pp each way. $1200 for 2 return all up. Problem was that it gets in at 2230 which is quite late. Sitting on the beach in Seminyak seeing all the JQ craft arriving mid afternoon made me a bit jealous of the schedule, but at least VA weren’t cancelling 🙂
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