Virgin Australia To Resume Services To Launceston

BRISBANE 23 JUNE 2011: The Virgin Australia Group of Airlines' plans to resume services to Launceston from midday today (AEST), 23 June 2011, as the volcanic ash plume from Chilean volcano, Cordon Caulle, moves away to the east of northern Tasmania.

Virgin Australia operates direct flights to Launceston from Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne.

Based on the latest advice from the Bureau of Meteorology and the Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre, services to Hobart will remain suspended today. However, the airline is confident that services to Hobart will be able to return to normal tomorrow, 24 June 2011.

The Group will continue its efforts to accommodate as many Guests as possible by adding extra capacity on routes through the course of the day.

All flights into and out of New Zealand will continue to be suspended for the duration of today.

As a result, there will continue to be some flow on affects on Pacific Blue flights between Australia and the Pacific Islands.

The Virgin Australia Group of Airlines is endeavouring to contact affected Guests to discuss alternative travel options and is continuing to provide regular updates, including a listing of all cancelled flights, on our websites - www.virginaustralia.com or www.flypacificblue.com.

Guests are urged to check for the latest news on the volcanic ash plume's impacts.

ENDS

Media Enquiries: Colin Lippiatt 0423 028 046 or Melissa Thomson 0408 660 891