Virgin Australia Update on Ash Plume as at 0500AM

BRISBANE 13 JUNE 2011: The Virgin Australia Group of Airlines will recommence services affected by the ash plume into and out of Melbourne; Tasmania; and New Zealand from 0700 today.

Group Executive Operations Sean Donohue said that the airline had been working closely with representatives from the Bureau of Meteorology and the Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre to confirm the safe resumption of services.

“Overnight we have been monitoring closely the situation and we now believe that conditions are safe to operate. We will be operating a full schedule today with minimal cancellations and our priority will be to get all Guests to their destination as safely and smoothly as possible.

“Guests holding a reservation for travel today should check the website first before leaving for the airport if they have not already been contacted by our Guest Contact Centre,” he said.

The following domestic flights have been cancelled for today:

DJ803 Melbourne to Sydney

DJ809 Melbourne to Sydney

DJ811 Melbourne to Sydney

DJ815 Melbourne to Sydney

DJ303 Melbourne to Brisbane

DJ309 Melbourne to Brisbane

DJ253 Melbourne to Canberra

DJ259 Melbourne to Canberra

DJ211 Melbourne to Adelaide

DJ725 Melbourne to Coolangatta

DJ675 Melbourne to Perth

DJ925 Sydney to Brisbane

DJ505 Sydney to Coolangatta

DJ262 Canberra to Melbourne

DJ1361 Launceston to Melbourne

DJ1313 Hobart to Melbourne

DJ204 Adelaide to Melbourne

DJ628 Sydney to Canberra

DJ635 Canberra to Sydney

The following international flights have been cancelled for today:

DJ165 Auckland to Melbourne

DJ67 Wellington to Brisbane

DJ164 Melbourne to Auckland

DJ147 Melbourne to Nadi

DJ146 Nadi to Melbourne

DJ187 Auckland to Brisbane

DJ51 Auckland to Sydney

DJ81 Christchurch to Brisbane

Media Enquiries: Melissa Thomson M: 0408 660 891