Virgin Australia Reviews
Virgin Australia Reviews
Virgin Australia Airlines, formerly Virgin Blue Airlines, is Australia’s second-largest airline as well as the largest by fleet size to use the Virgin brand. Now based in Bowen Hills, Brisbane, the airline was co-founded by British businessman Richard Branson and former Virgin Blue CEO Brett Godfrey. It was established in 2000 with two aircraft operating on a single route, and suddenly found itself catapulted to the position of Australia’s second airline after the collapse of Ansett Australia in September 2001. The airline has grown to directly serve 29 cities in Australia from hubs in Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney, using a fleet of narrow-body Boeing and Embraer jets; and Airbus and Boeing widebody jets.
After several years operating as a low-cost carrier it improved its services to become a so-called (self-described) “New World Carrier” – essentially a business model which offers the “guest” the choice of purchasing a ticket with aspects of the “no frills” approach of low-cost carriers or paying a little more to receive services more in line with full-service airlines in order to compete more effectively with Qantas in the business travel market. In 2011 it took this strategy further by introducing new uniforms; new catering options on board; new widebody aircraft to compete with Qantas on Perth – Sydney services; and the concurrent introduction of business class in January 2012; together with a new livery and renaming of the brand to Virgin Australia. The airline has won a number of awards since its inception. It and certain of its employees won five 2009 Service Excellence Awards of the Customer Service Institute of Australia. The airline has won a number of awards since its inception. It and certain of its employees won five 2009 Service Excellence Awards of the Customer Service Institute of Australia. Virgin Australia launched its frequent-flyer program Velocity Rewards in 2005, with partner National Australia Bank offering a companion credit card. The Rabbitohs are the first rugby league team Virgin Australia has sponsored.
Virgin Australia is also the official sponsor of the National Basketball League (NBL), and the title sponsor of NBL team the Brisbane Bullets.
