Australia's second-largest airline, connecting the nation.
Founded
2000
Headquarters
Brisbane, Australia
Virgin Australia is a major Australian airline headquartered in Brisbane, operating scheduled domestic and international services. Founded in 2000 as Virgin Blue, it rebranded to Virgin Australia in 2011 as part of a strategy to compete more directly with Qantas in the full-service segment.
The airline entered voluntary administration in April 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic and was subsequently acquired by Bain Capital in November 2020. Under new ownership, Virgin Australia refocused on its domestic network and a mid-market positioning, discontinuing long-haul international routes.
Today, Virgin Australia operates a fleet of Boeing 737 aircraft across an extensive domestic Australian network, with select short-haul international services to destinations in the Pacific region. It remains Australia's second-largest airline by market share.
Hubs & network
Virgin Australia's primary hubs are Brisbane Airport, Melbourne Airport, and Sydney Airport.
Fleet
Virgin Australia operates a fleet composed primarily of Boeing 737-800 and 737 MAX aircraft.
Notable facts
- ›Originally founded as Virgin Blue in 2000 as a low-cost carrier.
- ›Rebranded to Virgin Australia in 2011 to pursue a full-service market strategy.
- ›Entered voluntary administration in April 2020 due to COVID-19 financial pressures.
- ›Acquired by private equity firm Bain Capital in November 2020.
- ›Operates the Velocity Frequent Flyer loyalty program, which was separately sold and then reintegrated.
This profile is provided for general information only. Contact details may be inaccurate or outdated — always verify with the airline's official website before acting on them.
