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Virgin Australia is set to launch its first international service from Canberra later this year.
The airline will begin seasonal 737-800 flights between the nation’s capital and Bali from 22 June, with the service planned to run between April and January in future. Flights will operate three times per week, adding more than 40,000 seats each year on the route.
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“This is the first time in the history of the company that we will operate internationally from the capital, marking an important milestone in our broader network expansion story,” Virgin chief executive Dave Emerson said.
“Virgin Australia will be the only Australia-based airline operating internationally out of Canberra, and the only carrier on this new route.
“As we continue to grow our network, we’re focused on offering greater choice and seamless connectivity for our guests.”
The new route will make Virgin the only Australia-based airline operating international flights from Canberra, and complements its existing Bali services from Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and the Gold Coast with same-day connections.
Virgin will also be the only airline operating direct flights between Canberra and Bali when the service commences, though Batik Air had flown the route briefly between June and October 2024.
Only two other airlines currently fly internationally from Canberra: Qatar Airways to Doha via Melbourne, which commenced in December, and Fiji Airways to Nadi, which began in mid-2023.
“Indonesia has now overtaken New Zealand as one of Australia’s most popular international travel destinations,” Emerson added.
“Last year, we carried more than half a million guests between Australia and Bali, and it’s great to see demand for the destination continue to grow.”
Canberra Airport CEO Stephen Byron has hailed the route as a “significant milestone” that will be “warmly welcomed by travellers across the region”.
“We’re delighted to be expanding our network with Virgin Australia and introducing Virgin Australia’s first international service from Canberra, with hopes that this marks the start of further international growth with Virgin Australia,” he said.
The Bali service comes as Virgin switches the Alliance-operated Fokker 100 services between Canberra and Brisbane to its own 737 aircraft.
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