Sydney International flight expansion

08/08/2008

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SYDNEY- AUCKLAND & AUCKLAND – SYDNEY VIRGIN’S LATEST FLIGHT EXPANSION

NEW DIRECT FLIGHTS SYDNEY-AUCKLAND

NEW DIRECT FLIGHTS SYDNEY-VANUATU

DAILY DIRECT SYDNEY – NADI FLIGHTS

Friday 8 August 2008: Virgin Blue today announced a major expansion of international flights to and from Sydney, adding new route Sydney-Auckland, and Sydney-Vanuatu (Port Vila) and increasing flights between Sydney and Fiji (Nadi) to a daily service.

Commencing from 14 October nine weekly return Pacific Blue services will operate on the key trans-Tasman Sydney-Auckland route. Commencing from 16 October, twice weekly flights will operate between Sydney and Vanuatu (Port Vila).

Flights between Sydney and Nadi have also received a boost going from five times a week to daily direct services bringing an additional 360 seats to the route in each direction.

This news follows hot on the heels of Virgin Blue’s recent announcement to launch daily direct flights between Melbourne and Auckland.

To celebrate the expansion a special Sydney-Auckland one-way launch fare of $199* is on sale now until midnight Sunday 17th August 2008, or until sold out, for travel from 14 October to 12 December 2008. Regular lead-in fares will start from $299 per person one way on the net.

Virgin Blue Chief Executive Brett Godfrey reaffirmed the airline’s commitment to look at opportunities in the market where direct low fare flights are not currently available.

“Even in this current climate where many airlines are reviewing their networks, our team is always on the look out for potential routes that could do with added competition and where we can make a difference by bringing down over-priced airfares.

“We have been watching the key Sydney-Auckland route for some time as a logical expansion to our trans-Tasman operations and we are looking forward to adding more flights and affordable fares from Sydney to Vila and Nadi.

“We are confident these new routes will do very well for us and do very well for tourism in general,” Brett Godfrey finished.

Sydney Airport CEO, Russell Balding, welcomed Virgin Blue's decision to add new international services.

"This is really good news for passengers as they can enjoy the benefits of more choice and additional travel options. It is good for tourism and good for Sydney.

"Sydney Airport is the nation's gateway and handles more than 10 million international passengers each year. We are investing $500 million on upgrades to our international terminal to meet the needs of the increasing number of passengers.

"I'm delighted that Virgin Blue has demonstrated its confidence in the Sydney market," Mr Balding said.

SYDNEY- AUCKLAND: effective from 14 October 2008

SYDNEY-AUCKLAND

AUCKLAND-SYDNEY

SYDNEY- NADI: effective from 14 October 2008

SYDNEY-NADI

NADI-SYDNEY

SYDNEY- VANUATU: effective from 16 October 2008

SYDNEY-VANUATU (PORT VILA)

VANUATU (PORT VILA)-SYDNEY

*Fare is one-way for flights booked on the internet, $15 more by phone. Seats are limited and fare may not be available on all flights or during peak periods. On sale now to midnight Sunday 17 August 2008, or until sold out, for travel from 14 October to 12 December 2008. Seats are limited and fare may not be available on all flights or during peak periods.