Virgin Australia Brings Business Class and new Lounge to Mackay

Mackay Monday 23 May 2011: Virgin Australia has today announced that it will offer Business Class to Mackay, the first carrier to do so since May 2004, and open a new lounge before the end of 2011.

Virgin Australia Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director John Borghetti stated

“Mackay is an extremely important market for Virgin Australia. It is the gateway to many of Australia’s most popular tourist destinations and also boasts a strong mining industry which attracts business travellers”.

“We are in the process of rolling out our new Business Class product across our Boeing 737 fleet. Travellers to and from Mackay will be able to experience new levels of comfort and in-flight service before the end of 2011.

“The new Business Class product offers Guests luxury leather seating, contemporary interior design, high quality in-flight products and gourmet food inspired by Luke Mangan,” he said.

Mr Borghetti also announced that Virgin Australia would open its first lounge in Mackay before the end of this year.

The new 260m² Mackay lounge will offer:

·lounge seating for up to 70 Guests

·Premium Luke Mangan designed refreshments

·A premium selection of beverages

·Business services including complimentary WiFi, power, PC and printer

·Entertainment and relaxation with newspapers, premium magazine titles and a Panasonic high definition flat screen television featuring FOXTEL and free-to-air programming.

Virgin Australia operates 41 services each week between Sydney and Brisbane to Mackay with more than 4640 seats across the Boeing 737 and Embraer E-Jet fleets.

Mr Borghetti is in Mackay to co-host the welcome reception of the Mackay Regional Sitting of State Parliament with the Honourable Anna Bligh MP. Members of the Virgin Australia Group Executive team were also in attendance.

Media enquiries: Melissa Thomson M: 0408 660 891