Virgin Australia (VA) Guide

Virgin Australia is Australia’s second-largest airline group, flying an all-Boeing 737 fleet from Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne.

Please note: bookingMentor is an independent travel service and is not affiliated with Virgin Australia. Routes, schedules and baggage rules change, so always confirm the details of your booking with the airline.

What to expect

Virgin Australia (IATA VA) is an Australian airline headquartered in South Bank, Brisbane, with main hubs in Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney. It was Australia's largest domestic airline by passenger share as of December 2024, flying to about 33 Australian destinations plus New Zealand, the Pacific islands and Bali. It suits travellers who want a mid-market alternative to Qantas on domestic and short international routes.

Virgin Blue and the Ansett collapse

Richard Branson and Brett Godfrey founded the airline as Virgin Blue on 29 August 2000, a low-cost carrier for Australia's domestic market. A year later Ansett Australia collapsed, and Virgin Blue grew quickly into the country's second major domestic airline. Toll Holdings became the majority owner in 2006 and sold most of its stake in 2008. A long-haul offshoot, V Australia, flew from 2009 until it was folded back in.

The Virgin Australia name arrived on 4 May 2011, along with a move toward business travellers. In 2013 the airline bought Skywest, which became Virgin Australia Regional Airlines, and the Chinese conglomerate HNA agreed to buy a 13 per cent stake in 2016.

Administration in 2020 and Bain Capital's rescue

On 21 April 2020 Virgin Australia entered voluntary administration, brought down by the pandemic on top of years of losses. Bain Capital agreed to buy it from the administrator Deloitte, and the sale completed on 17 November 2020. The relaunched airline dropped its long-haul flying and its larger aircraft, and positioned itself as a mid-market carrier.

In 2023 it made a profit for the first time in eleven years, A$129 million. In February 2025 the Australian Treasurer approved Qatar Airways buying 25 per cent, and in June 2025 Virgin Australia returned to the Australian Securities Exchange, leaving Bain Capital with 40 per cent and Qatar Airways with 23 per cent. Revenue for the 2024 to 2025 financial year was A$5.81 billion. Dave Emerson became chief executive in 2025.

Main hubs, Bali and partner airlines

Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney are the main hubs, Adelaide and Perth secondary hubs, and Denpasar in Bali and the Gold Coast focus cities. Most flying is domestic, with short-haul international routes to New Zealand, the Pacific and Bali.

For long-haul travel, Virgin Australia relies on partners. It runs joint ventures with Qatar Airways and Singapore Airlines and codeshares with Air Canada, Air New Zealand, United Airlines and Virgin Atlantic. Air New Zealand ended an earlier partnership in October 2018, and a limited trans-Tasman codeshare was approved again in June 2024. Virgin Australia is not in a global alliance.

Pets and cargo

From mid-October 2025 Virgin Australia allows small dogs and cats in the cabin on selected domestic routes, with a limited number per flight. Virgin Australia Cargo, launched in July 2015, carries freight mainly in the holds of passenger aircraft.

Choosing Virgin Australia

Compare what each Virgin Australia fare includes before you book on busy domestic routes. Virgin Australia lounges at Australian airports are open to Business passengers and Velocity Gold and Platinum members.