Virgin Blue Group of Airlines has become the first Australian carrier to operate in the Middle East for 20 years, after launching its inaugural V Australia flight to Abu Dhabi on February 24. The initally three times weekly Abu Dhabi serivce comes as part of the codesharing alliance agreement between Virgin Blue and Etihad, which
Virgin Blue has announced plans to build a widebody capable aircraft maintenance hangar and engineering base at Sydney Airport. Planning on the new facility is well underway, according to Virgin Blue Group of Airlines CEO John Borghetti, with the hangar able to accommodate up to four narrow-body aircraft, or two narrow-body aircraft and one widebody
Virgin Blue has revealed details of the cabin layout of the two A330-200s it will be introducing on domestic service from May. The airline will offer its first domestic business class on the aircraft, featuring six-abreast 62in pitch leather seats with seatback IFE and a range of what the airline describes as “high quality food
Virgin Blue has announced it has chosen the ATR 72 as its regional turboprop airliner to be operated under its recently announced strategic alliance with Skywest Airlines. With 68-seats, the ATRs will replace the Embraer E-170 in Virgin Blue service. According to the airline, the ATR offers less than half the fuel burn and fuel
Virgin Blue Holdings Limited has reported an underlying net profit before tax of $72 million, down almost 63 per cent, while posting a net profit after tax of $24 million (down 8.5 per cent), for the half year ending December 31. The company says the underlying and net profit results were in line with guidance
Etihad Airways has appointed Robin Middleton to manager alliances, where he will oversee Etihad’s relationship with the Virgin Blue Group. Middleton, an Australian national who was formerly Etihad’s regional general manager Americas, will relocate to Brisbane, the home-base of Virgin Blue, to supervise the selling, marketing and distribution of Etihad’s partnership with VB. He was