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Virgin again delays return to international flights, culls most NZ destinations

written by Hannah Dowling | May 14, 2021

Virgin Australia 737-8FE VH-YIV
A Virgin Australia 737-8FE lands at Melbourne YMML (Victor Pody)

Virgin Australia has again pushed back its plans to return to international short-haul routes following news that the federal government is unlikely to allow a return of international travel until mid-2022.

Last weekend, the release of the federal government’s budget suggested that international borders would not fully re-open until at least mid-2022, pushing back from earlier estimates of late 2021.

In light of the news, Virgin has announced it has again deferred its intentions to reinstate flights from Australia to Fiji and Indonesia until “at least” December 2021.

Further, in a surprising call, despite the government’s provision for a trans-Tasman bubble, Virgin will not be pursuing flights to most New Zealand destinations for the foreseeable future.

This is a change from the carrier’s previous announcements in which it said it would begin routes to Queenstown from September, and other major NZ cities from 31 October.

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“Although we’ve seen positive developments with the trans-Tasman travel bubble and governments working exceptionally well to manage outbreaks, current demand for travel to New Zealand remains subdued, except for Queenstown, where customers are looking to travel over the September school holidays and the upcoming summer,” said Virgin’s chief strategy and transformation officer Alistair Hartley.

“All other New Zealand services will be deferred for the time being.”

As previously announced, from 18 September, Virgin will operate Boeing 737 services from Sydney and Brisbane to Queesntown. It will then expand its offering to include Melbourne to Queenstown flights from 7 December 2021.

However due to “subdued” demand, Virgin will also indefinitely defer its return to other short-haul international destinations, including Vanuatu, Samoa and the Solomon Islands.

“While we know some Australians are itching to travel overseas, it is clear that international travel won’t return to normal as quickly as first anticipated,” Hartley said.

“We’re being realistic about restarting short-haul international flying, and have today delayed services to the Pacific, and to Bali, Indonesia, until at least December.

“We are continually reviewing our network to respond to the latest advice, and importantly looking at whether we can restart short-haul international flying, including to New Zealand earlier, should travel demand improve and circumstances change.

“Doing the right thing for our customers remains at the heart of our decision making, and while the impact is relatively low due to ongoing border uncertainty, we are working to provide affected customers with alternative options as quickly as possible.”

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Comments (5)

  • Tyrone

    says:

    Sounds like its’ owner Bain, is saving $$$ where they can, after all, they’re a ‘poor’ multi-billion dollar US company.
    It’d be interesting to know how much ‘cash’ they’ve actually injected into it since becoming the ‘owner’, last September.
    Not much it seems.
    Wonder if they’re going to ‘flog it off’ ASAP?

  • Shane

    says:

    With Virgin now wholly owned by one US entity, how do they still have rights to International routes out of Australia?
    I thought they had to be majority Australian owned to be eligible for International flights.
    Isn’t that why they spun off Virgin International as a separate company to become the only majority Australian owned part of the VA group
    Did the dodgey shell company VAIH survive the collapse VA could not?
    Why hasn’t the Government closed this loop hole?

  • Alex Georgeson

    says:

    What happens to my credit come June 2022.
    BYOJey who I booked through to fly myself and my wife to Brisbane in 2020 from Auckland return have been bloody useless and incompetent.
    I won’t go into too much detail as can feel my blood boiling again however, my credit with VA expires in June unless I book flights by then and use by the following year in 2023.
    The catch …….VA do not fly to NZ !!!
    BYO jet are meant to be my agents as quick to take my money but their communication and customer service is virtually non existent.
    If I contact VA I get told I have to go through the agent I used to book and pay for my flights being BYOJet!!
    Feeling robbed and constitute palmed off …..too right

    • Angela

      says:

      This is exactly me as well – VA have kept my $1900 that my family so desperately needs!!!!
      I cant even use the credit to book future flights as there are NO FLIGHTS online from NZ to Australia, nothing!
      I booked the tickets myself, so didnt go through an agent. How am I supposed to use my credit????

      • Debbie

        says:

        Did you ever get a response to this question from anyone Angela, as we are in exactly the same situation?

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