Virgin Blue Initiates Major Travel Expansion 24 jan 02

Virgin Blue Initiates Major Travel Expansion

Low Fare Carrier To Offer Flight Connections Australia Wide

Virgin Blue has announced it will offer flight connections for the first time, providing Virgin Blue Guests with 15 more destinations with a smooth transition in between.

Bookings for connecting flights can now be made on our website www.virginblue.com.au, through our award winning Call Centre or through your travel agent for travel from February 14.

The introduction of connections by Virgin Blue means that Guests will be offered “through fares” from their origin to their destination. For example, Guests travelling from Sydney to Townsville can be sold a “through fare”, with the connecting or transit port being Brisbane.

Baggage will be automatically transferred so customers need not be concerned with collecting their bags halfway and re-presenting themselves for check-in a second time.

Virgin Blue has developed a schedule that allows for a minimum connection time of 30 minutes for flights sold as connecting flights.

This is intended to ensure that Guests have enough time to arrive at their connecting port and complete any aircraft change if it’s required.

The 30-minute connection applies only to those flights sold as connecting flights i.e. not to standard single sector flights. Where a Guest does not book ‘through fares’ but opts for 2 single sectors to get to their destination, standard Virgin Blue rules apply, requiring at least a 90-minute connection time.

Tim Jordan, Head of Commercial Distribution said, “Virgin Blue’s decision to provide connections has been driven by overwhelming demand by our Guests for increased access to Virgin Blue’s nationwide network. “

He continued, “Our passengers have shown through their support of Virgin Blue that they appreciate the everyday low fares and award winning customer service. The introduction of connections allows them efficient and affordable travel, further afield on Virgin Blue.”

Tim Jordan finished, “Low fare connections also means that more Australians and foreign visitors will have access to affordable fares to regional destinations in Northern Territory, Tasmania, South Australia and our home state, Queensland. ”

Guests can now book connecting flights between the following Virgin Blue destinations.

Virgin Blue currently services every State and Territory in the country. The airline recently announced an $8.2-million trading profit for the half year ending September and is currently expending its fleet of brand new next Generation Boeing 737 aircraft.