V FOR VICTORIA! - V AUSTRALIA STARTS MELBOURNE OPERATIONS WITH DIRECT FLIGHTS TO LOS ANGELES AND PHUKET

V FOR VICTORIA! - V AUSTRALIA STARTS MELBOURNE OPERATIONS WITH DIRECT FLIGHTS TO LOS ANGELES AND PHUKET

VICTORIA SET TO BENEFIT FROM INCREASED TOURISM, DIRECT FLIGHTS AND AFFORDABLE INTERNATIONAL AIRFARES

MEDIA ALERT: Melbourne-based media are invited to attend the colourful send off of
V Australia’s very first Melbourne service – the new international airline’s inaugural Melbourne-Los Angeles flight.

When:   Tuesday 1 December 9.30am

Who:   The Hon. Tim Holding, Minister for Tourism

Virgin Blue Chief Executive, Brett Godfrey

Special Guest celebrities including actors Vince Colismo, Pippa Black and Axle Whitehead, Balinese Princess Lindy Klim, Miss Universe and MasterChef Rachael Finch

Where: Check-in area at Melbourne International Terminal (Departures Level)

Monday 30 November 2009, Melbourne, Australia: V Australia, Virgin Blue’s new three-class long-haul international airline, will turn its full focus to the state of Victoria this week, with the launch of two new international routes direct from Melbourne.

The flight, full of inaugural Guests including VIP celebrities, corporate Guests and paying passengers, will be officially farewelled by the Hon. Tim Holding, Minister for Tourism.

It will herald V Australia’s first foray into Victoria with the boutique carrier beginning non-stop services from Melbourne to the United States of America (Los Angeles) as well as Thailand (Phuket).

Travellers will enjoy V Australia’s Boeing 777-300 aircraft, which boasts a three class cabin including 33 fully lie-flat beds in International Business, 40 International Club seats in Premium Economy and 288 Economy seats. V Australia will provide a competitive and affordable non-stop flying option for Victorians to fly to the US and V Australia will also be the only airline to offer a convenient direct service from Melbourne to the popular Thailand playground of Phuket.

The new services are also expected to provide economic and tourism benefits for the state, with tomorrow’s first flight from Los Angeles to Melbourne set to land at 7am with a full load of passengers, including LA based, Australian actress Melissa George.

Virgin Blue Chief Executive, Brett Godfrey, said, “We are excited to be launching not just one, but two new international routes from Melbourne within a few days of each other and just in time for the peak holiday season. We identified both the US and Thailand as two highly desirable holiday destinations, with the US also a key business route for Victorians. Our aim is to stimulate both leisure and business traffic, provide incentives via affordable and high quality, comfortable flying options and open up opportunities for US based companies to do more business in Victoria and vice versa.

To celebrate the new route, V Australia has announced a $689* one-way “High Tail It To Hollywood” launch fare on sale from now until midnight 15 December 2009, for travel on direct flights between Melbourne and Los Angeles from 1 February to 31 Mar 2010.

Lead-in fares start from $1650* return on the net for International Economy, $3620* for Premium Economy and $9875* for all the bells and whistles in V Australia’s award-winning International Business Class Cabin. All fares are fully inclusive of taxes and surcharges with the direct flights departing from Melbourne to Los Angeles every Tuesday and Saturday.

Flights to Phuket take off this Thursday 3 December with special “Tuk Tuk Off to Phuket” fares on sale for $399* one-way from now until midnight 7 December 2009, for travel on direct flights between Melbourne and Phuket from 3 December - 17 December 2009 and 15 January - 31 May 2010.

Lead-in fares start from $499* one-way on the net for International Economy, $899* for Premium Economy and $1499* for International Business Class Cabin. All fares are fully inclusive of taxes and surcharges with the direct flights departing from Melbourne to Phuket every Thursday and returning Friday’s, with return connections available via Brisbane or Perth.

Virgin Blue Chief Executive, Brett Godfrey, said, “While V Australia is less than 12 months old, it has already been recognised globally for its award winning service, friendly crew, unique product offering and has been credited for bringing down fares, in particular on the trans-Pacific route. We are very proud of that in one of the most turbulent times in aviation”.

“Melbourne and Victoria are an important part of our long term growth plan for V Australia and this is clearly demonstrated in the fact that V Australia’s next launch flight will be the direct Melbourne-Johannesburg services scheduled for take-off in March next year. Melbourne will be the only city to have direct flights to all three
V Australia international destinations.”

Flight Schedules

Melbourne – Los Angeles    Effective 1 December 2009 (subject to change)

Los Angeles –Melbourne  Effective 29 November 2009 (subject to change)

Melbourne – Phuket     Effective 3 December 2009 (subject to change)

Phuket – Melbourne  Effective 3 December 2009 (subject to change)

* All fares are for flights booked on the internet or $50 more when booked by phone. Fares are inclusive of all taxes, fees and charges and subject to availability and may not be available on all flights or peak times. A credit card surcharge of an additional $15 per person per booking is applicable.

About V Australia and Virgin Blue: V Australia www.vaustralia.com.au is a three class boutique style airline offering the acclaimed service for which the Virgin Blue Group is renowned and a unique Australian style. The airline has two in-flight bars, mood lighting including twilight and sunset, bathrooms with piped music including a "ladies only" bathroom and other touches of Australiana from salt and pepper shakers to hidden wallpaper murals. V Australia is a part of the Virgin Blue Group of Airlines. The Australian-based airline group also includes Virgin Blue, second largest carrier in Australia www.virginblue.com.au and short haul international airlines Pacific Blue www.flypacificblue.com Polynesian Blue. Together they operate a fleet comprising of 83 modern Boeing 737-NG’s, Boeing 777 and Embraer E-Jet aircraft flying to 28 Australian and 13 international destinations in the South Pacific and Southeast Asia.