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Air India and Virgin Australia Partner to Make Travel Between Australia and India Easier
Travelling between Australia and India just got a whole lot easier, thanks to a new codeshare agreement between Air India and Virgin Australia. This exciting partnership is set to boost two-way tourism and facilitate VFR (visiting friends and relatives) travel, offering seamless connections and enhanced travel experiences. A Seamless Travel Experience Under this unilateral partnership, Virgin Australia will place its VA code on Air India-operated flights, allowing seamless connections from Melbourne and Sydney to Delhi, and onwards to various destinations within India and beyond. Conversely, Air India can place its ‘AI’ code on Virgin Australia services, enabling onward travel to 16 destinations across Australia and New Zealand. These destinations include Adelaide, Ballina/Byron Bay, Brisbane, Cairns, Canberra, Darwin, Gold Coast, Hamilton Island, Hobart, Launceston, Melbourne, Newcastle, Perth, Queenstown (New Zealand), Sunshine Coast, and Sydney. Convenience and Efficiency One of the standout benefits of this codeshare agreement is that passengers travelling on a single ticket will have their baggage checked through to their final destination in both directions. This means no more re-checking bags during layovers, offering a hassle-free travel experience that every traveller will appreciate. First Codeshare Flights Commence The first codeshare flights commence today, February 18, 2025. Air India currently operates 14 non-stop weekly flights between Delhi and Australia using its Boeing 787 Dreamliner, which features 18 flat-bed business class seats and 238 economy seats. A Growing Tourism Market Alistair Hartley, Virgin Australia’s Chief Strategy and Transformation Officer, expressed his excitement about the partnership: “We are pleased to partner with Air India to make it easier for their customers to explore everything Australia has to offer. India is a growing tourism market for Australia, and this partnership will encourage travellers arriving on one of Air India’s 14 weekly flights to explore more of our wonderful country thanks to seamless onward connections on the Virgin Australia network.” Nipun Aggarwal, Air India’s Chief Commercial Officer, echoed these sentiments, describing Australia as “one of Air India’s most important international markets.” He added, “So it is incredibly exciting for us to be partnering with Virgin Australia to expand our presence in the region. This partnership provides greater ease and access for the large Indian diaspora spread across the continent and opens up a whole new range of destinations for holidaymakers wanting to soak up the beaches of Gold Coast, discover Tasmania or explore the natural wonders of The Great Barrier Reef.” Looking Ahead As this new codeshare agreement takes off, it promises to enhance the travel experience for passengers flying between Australia and India. With seamless connections, hassle-free baggage handling, and access to a wide range of destinations, travellers can look forward to exploring the best of both countries with ease. This partnership marks an exciting chapter for Air India and Virgin Australia, bringing new opportunities for tourism and cultural exchange between these two vibrant regions.
Air India codeshares with Virgin Australia
Air India and Virgin Australia announced a new codeshare partnership that significantly boosts connectivity and the ease of travelling between India and Australia. The unilateral codeshare agreement enables Air India to place its ‘AI’ code on flights operated by Virgin Australia. This enhances the opportunities that Air India customers have when travelling from Delhi to Melbourne or Sydney and take seamless onward connections on Virgin Australia flights to 16 destinations in Australia and New Zealand1. The enhanced cooperation will also ensure that passengers travelling on a single ticket will have their baggage checked through the entire journey. The 16 cities in Australia and New Zealand include: Adelaide, Ballina/Byron Bay, Brisbane, Cairns, Canberra, Darwin, Gold Coast, Hamilton Island, Hobart, Launceston, Melbourne, Newcastle, Perth, Queenstown (New Zealand)1, Sunshine Coast, and Sydney. “We are pleased to partner with Air India to make it easier for their customers to explore everything Australia has to offer. India is a growing tourism market for Australia and this partnership will encourage travellers arriving on one of Air India’s 14 weekly flights to explore more of our wonderful country thanks to seamless onward connections on the Virgin Australia network,” said Alistair Hartley, Chief Strategy and Transformation Officer, Virgin Australia. “Australia is one of Air India’s most important international markets, so it is incredibly exciting for us to be partnering with Virgin Australia to expand our presence in the region. While the partnership provides greater ease and access for the large Indian diaspora spread across the continent, it also opens up a whole new range of destinations for holidaymakers wanting to soak up the beaches of Gold Coast, discover Tasmania, or to explore the natural wonders of The Great Barrier Reef,” said Nipun Aggarwal, Chief Commercial Officer, Air India. Air India operates 14x weekly flights from India to Australia, flying non-stop daily from Delhi to Melbourne and Delhi to Sydney. The airline utilises its Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft on these routes, featuring 18 flat beds in Business Class and 238 spacious seats in Economy Class. Air India customers taking onward flights on Virgin Australia flights within Australia and New Zealand will enjoy world-class Business and Economy Class cabins, and award-winning service. Codeshare bookings will start from 11 February 2025, with the first codeshare flights to operate from 18 February 2025.
SriLankan Airlines partners with Virgin Australia
SriLankan Airlines has entered into a first-ever interline partnership with Virgin Australia that will strengthen the airline’s network in Australia and offer customers extensive connections across the land down under and beyond. The new partnership reaffirms SriLankan’s commitment to Australia and will present customers the convenience of adding select Virgin Australia domestic or international connections to their SriLankan Airlines booking and managing a multi-airline itinerary under a single ticket. Dimuthu Tennakoon, Head of Worldwide Sales & Distribution of SriLankan Airlines commented on the partnership by stating, “Australia has one of the largest Sri Lankan diasporic communities, which makes our Australian routes incredibly popular all year around and particularly with people travelling to visit friends and relatives or in pursuit of higher education. This partnership will help us make further inroads in the Australian market through improved connectivity and a range of other benefits for our valued customers.” SriLankan Airlines currently operates daily from Colombo to Melbourne and from Colombo to Sydney on a thrice-weekly basis. The partnership will enable passengers flying SriLankan to Melbourne or Sydney to connect to the Australian cities of Adelaide, Brisbane, Canberra, Cairns, Darwin, Hobart, Hamilton Island, Launceston, Gold Coast and Perth with Virgin Australia. Passengers will also have the option of flying beyond Australia to New Zealand, Samoa and Fiji. It is a win for Sri Lankan and Indian Australians living in these cities too as they can now fly out from their local city to Sri Lanka or India with a single SriLankan Airlines’ booking. What’s more, passengers can enjoy a seamless journey with a single check-in, including for baggage, at the departure airport and beat transit check-in queues. The introduction of domestic and international interline flights options with Virgin Australia would improve the accessibility to Sri Lanka for Australian outbound tourists as well. An important customer group for SriLankan, the partnership will unquestionably help develop Australian leisure travel to Sri Lanka. It will also provide easy connections for SriLankan Airlines’ passengers flying to Australia via Colombo from the Maldives, India, Nepal, Pakistan and Bangladesh. Since relaunching flights to Melbourne in October 2017 and Sydney in June 2020, close to a million passengers have travelled with SriLankan Airlines to Australia. The new partnership will enhance SriLankan Airlines’ service to Australia as the airline prepares to cruise to new altitudes above the land down under.
Explore Queensland with Virgin Australia at flights starting from $49
Family enjoying the Bougainvillea Pool on Hamilton Island Aussie travellers can get more for less on their next Queensland getaway with Virgin Australia slashing fares on over 30 flight routes in (and to) the Sunshine State from today Fares from as little as $49* are up for grabs and are expected to sell out fast. Combined with budget-friendly holiday ideas and discounted experiences, a Queensland summer getaway is even more affordable. Queensland is calling on travellers from across the country to make the most of these penny pincher flights and treat themselves to a vitamin D drenched holiday. With many Australians feeling the pinch from the rising cost of living, the sale is giving holidaymakers more opportunities to jet off to the Great Barrier Reef, the glittering beaches of the Gold Coast or a tropical island for less than dinner and a show. For the same price as two regular coffees a day across the working week, Sydneysiders can escape to the Gold Coast for just $49* one way. For the cost of one week’s unused gym membership, swim laps on the Great Barrier Reef with flights from Sydney to Cairns for just $85*. Save even more on a Cairns holiday visiting both the Reef and Rainforest with Downunder Cruise and Dive offering $70 off not one, but a two-day combo for just $390 per adult. For the same price as a deluxe manicure and pedicure, Melbournians can experience a natural pedicure walking the beaches of Noosa and Mooloolaba with direct flights to the Sunshine Coast for $75*. Meanwhile, flights from Tullamarine to Hamilton Island in the Whitsundays are on sale for $95*. Stay four nights and enjoy a full day tour to the Great Barrier Reef by booking a Hamilton Island Great Barrier Reef Adventure online, with savings of up to $239. For the ultimate date night whisk that special someone away for Valentine’s Day, with flights from Perth to Brisbane on sale for $155* one way. Turn the romance up another notch with a luxe hotel stay, complete with drinks and dinner under Brisbane’s iconic Story Bridge. The five-star Crystalbrook Vincent’s Stay + Play at HSW package includes a $100 voucher to spend at any of the 13 restaurants and bars at Howard Smith Wharves right on the doorstep of the riverfront hotel. Residents in Canberra won’t be able to resist the temptation to fly north this summer with flights to the Gold Coast going for as little as $69*, that’s a flight for the same price as buying lunch at work each day for a week. Treat the tastebuds while staying on budget at Miami Marketta, a street-food fiesta night market in the beachside suburb of Miami with free entry. The foodie safari continues to Queensland’s capital with flights from Canberra to Brisbane for $95*. In South Australia, airfares from Adelaide to the Gold Coast have been pruned to just $79*, the same price as a florist bouquet delivery. Novocastrian’s can fly to Brisbane for just $65*, the same cost as parking in the city across the working week. Walk instead of drive and get the low down from a local on one of Museum of Brisbane’s walking tours, exploring the city’s history, culture and outdoor lifestyle for just $25 per person. Residents in the Northern Territory can escape to Brisbane’s vibrant city centre for just $129* each way departing Darwin. Those in Brisbane are not left out, with the chance to nab a holiday to the heart of the Great Barrier Reef with flights to the Whitsundays (Proserpine) going for the same price as the average weekly takeaway order ($59* fare one way). Soak up the magic of Townsville with direct flights from Brisbane going for $105* and book a return SeaLink ferry ticket online and save, hopping over to Magnetic Island for just $36 per adult. For travellers in the north, flights from Cairns to Brisbane have been slashed to $69* one way. Virgin Australia’s discounted Queensland flights are on sale now until 10 September or unless sold out prior, for select travel dates between October 2023 to June 2024. Terms and conditions apply.
Data Reveals true cost of bucket-list holidays with Czech Republic being most affordable for Brits
A trip to the Taj Mahal is more affordable for Brits than visiting the Eiffel Tower, new research reveals. A new study, conducted by Novuna Personal Finance, delved into the cost of visiting bucket list destinations around the world, looking at the most affordable and expensive locations. The research analysed the cost of flights from the UK, food, admission fees, and accommodation to estimate how much it could cost Brits to take a week-long trip to some of the world’s top-rated tourist attractions. Prague Castle topped the list of most affordable bucket list destinations, costing just £898 for one traveller to take a week’s holiday. Hagia Sophia in Turkey came in second (£985), followed by Petra in Jordan (£1,026). Most Affordable Bucket List Attractions for Brits 2023 Affordability ranking Bucket list attraction Country Estimated total cost for 1 week 1 Prague Castle Czech Republic £898 2 Hagia Sophia Turkey £985 3 Petra Jordan £1,026 4 The Acropolis Greece £1,052 5 Borobudur Indonesia £1,202 6 The Taj Mahal India £1,249 7 The Colosseum Italy £1.259 8 Bagan Myanmar £1,327 9 Burj Khalifa United Arab Emirates £1,335 10 Basílica de la Sagrada Familia Spain £1,340 11 Pyramids of Giza Egypt £1,347 12 Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque Centre United Arab Emirates £1,473 13 Machu Pichu Peru £1,504 14 Mount Kilimanjaro Tanzania £1,505 15 Cristo Redentor Brazil £1,631 16 Iguazu Falls Brazil £1,647 17 Grand Canyon USA £1,770 18 Great Wall of China China £1,801 19 Chichen Itza Mexico £1,880 20 Eiffel Tower France £1,882 21 Niagara Falls Canada / USA £2,113 22 Angkor Wat Cambodia £2,331 23 Mount Fuji Japan £2,413 24 Empire State Building USA £2,880 25 Great Barrier Reef Australia £5,303 When it comes to the most expensive bucket list destination, the Great Barrier Reef was revealed to be the dearest – a trip to the world’s largest coral reef system will cost the average UK traveller £5,303 for the week. The flights alone cost close to £2,000, while accommodation on Hamilton Island will set you back over £2,788 for this once-in-a-lifetime trip. It’s clear holidaymakers are on the lookout for once-in-a-lifetime trips without breaking the bank. Novuna Personal Finance spotted an 84 per cent increase in searches for ‘bucket list destinations’ this year, while searches for ‘affordable luxury holidays’ have surged by 52 per cent in the same period. Theresa Lindsay, Director of Marketing at Novuna Personal Finance, comments: “Whether for a milestone birthday, special occasion, or simply to see the world, we all have those bucket list destinations we dream of travelling to. “Our research has found that the costs of travelling to some of the world’s most highly rated tourist attractions are more affordable and accessible than many would expect. It is particularly interesting to see so many non-European destinations within the most affordable list, especially as holidaymakers often won’t consider travelling outside of Europe, due to the anticipated expenses. “As the research shows, the difference between the cost of a more ordinary holiday and visiting a bucket list destination is not as extreme as perhaps expected. We’re seeing an increase in searches for these once-in-a-lifetime destinations, too, as people look to tick off one of their dream destinations instead. “However, travelling to bucket list destinations can be costly, even when the most affordable is chosen. That’s where a holiday loan can help, as it allows holidaymakers to spread the cost over a series of fixed-rate payments. “Holiday loans can also be used to enhance the experience of travelling abroad, allowing holidaymakers to top up their travel budgets. This could include upgrading flights to first class, adding another destination to the itinerary, or booking personal tours of these famous landmarks.”
Sky Vacations expands portfolio to Queensland, Australia
Sky Vacations, the US based tour operators, specializing in custom crafted itineraries for individual and group travellers, announced the expansion of its products to Queensland, Australia. New programs include a 9-day journey of discovery ‘Exploring Queensland To Sydney’ featuring thriving food and wine scene in Brisbane, visit to Whitsundays - the island paradise in the heart of Queensland, Hamilton Island and the spectacular Great Barrier Reef. The tour ends in the vibrant city of Sydney. For first time visitors, ‘Best of Australia’ is the perfect multi-center tour that incorporates some of the most famous sights of Australia on an 8-day experience. The tour includes the best of city life in Sydney in contrast with the rugged natural beauty of the Ayers Rock and the Great Barrier Reef. To maximize the experience, day trips to the Blue Mountains and Daintree Rainforest have also been included. “Queensland is one of the biggest states in Australia and is home to some of the world’s most magical places.” says Richard Krieger, Director of Sky Vacations. Further he adds, “when it comes to things to see and do, places to visit, and memorable experiences, Queensland has something for everyone. Whether it’s a romantic getaway or a fun family vacation that’s filled with sun, sailing, snorkeling, diving, extra ordinary marine life, Whitsundays and the Great Barrier Reef in Queensland offers it all. Ready for some laidback urban charm and a splash of adventure with a thriving food and wine scene, head to Brisbane, the capital of Queensland. With sunshine over 300 days in a year, Queensland is a year along destination for all.”
Virgin Australia Launches Celebration Sale As Queensland Reopens
As the Queensland border reopens, Virgin Australia has unveiled a major sale on flights to the state, with some fares as low as $59. After around five months, the sunshine state opened its borders to Australians who had been vaccinated. Those who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and can verify that they had a negative PCR test before beginning their flight were allowed to enter the country at 1 a.m. local time on Monday. Interstate travellers will be able to go north in time for the holiday season thanks to the easing of the border following Queensland’s achievement of the 80 per cent double dose vaccination milestone last week. On Monday, Virgin Australia announced that one million one-way economy fares from across the country would be discounted to celebrate the milestone. The routes on sale include: Launceston – Brisbane from $59 Hobart – Gold Coast from $59 Sydney – Gold Coast from $59 Sydney – Sunshine Coast from $65 Melbourne – Gold Coast from $69 Adelaide – Brisbane from $89 Melbourne – Sunshine Coast from $95 Melbourne – Townsville from $99 Sydney – Hamilton Island from $109 Perth – Cairns from $129 Flight searches on the Virgin Australia website jumped by roughly 120 per cent on Monday afternoon following the Queensland Government’s announcement that the border will reopen. Nearly 90% of new Virgin Australia bookings for the December and January period were made by travellers excited to visit Queensland throughout the summer holiday period. “Today is a monumental day for Australians, and we’re delighted to help travellers right across the country reunite with loved ones, friends and family or finally visit that dream Queensland holiday destination over the summer period and into 2022,” Virgin Australia Group Chief Commercial Officer Dave Emerson said. “Our pilots, cabin crew and wonderful team members are equally excited to get back in the air and welcome travellers back on board with our famous Virgin Australia charisma.” The flights on sale are for travel between January 1 and June 2022.
Qantas To Offer All A380 Seats To Frequent Flyers
Qantas A380 new first class seating Has the pandemic prevented you from redeeming many of your Qantas points? Qantas is giving some amazing deals right now, so take advantage of them. The airline has said that all of Qantas’ Airbus A380 seats will be made available for purchase with frequent flyer points when the superjumbos return in March. A record-breaking demand for award seats prompted the airline to make the decision. Qantas frequent fliers accumulated points through partnering programmes and credit cards throughout the pandemic, but with nowhere to redeem them. When it comes to redeeming classic reward seats, “we’ve had record after record day after record day.” In an interview with Bloomberg, Olivia Wirth, the head of Qantas Loyalty, remarked. “Our customers prefer international flights.” According to Wirth, Qantas frequent flyers have collectively spent over seven billion Qantas points on flight redemptions in the four weeks since NSW first reopened its international border, followed by Victoria and ACT. A few months ago, Qantas hinted that it might boost the number of ‘Points Planes’ – where every seat in every class on an aircraft is available to purchase as an award seat – if more states and territories eased their domestic and international travel restrictions. As soon as Qantas relaunches its superjumbos, Wirth confirmed that all 485 seats on the A380 would be eligible for points. Even though Qantas has officially set forwards the resumption of A380 flights to April 2022, it appears that the four-engined aircraft will be put into service from late March 2022. Five of the airline’s 12 mothballed A380s are expected to return to operation by the end of 2022; in April, the superjumbo will fly from Sydney to Los Angeles and Sydney to London in July. Qantas’ second online frequent flyer point auction, which offers luxury flights and treats and will run until this Thursday, December 9th, allows frequent passengers to sell their accumulated points. A private jet journey to Hamilton Island, a trip to Whistler in Canada, and an eight-night stay in London are just some of the vacation options available in this round of the points auction. Source: Australian Aviation
Virgin Australia launches vaccine incentive competition
Virgin Australia's COVID-19 vaccination incentive programme is ready to go, with "stacks of prizes up for grab." With its ‘VA-X & Win' competition, the airline is giving fully vaccinated Australians the chance to win one million Velocity Frequent Flyer points, dozens of free business class flights, and a variety of other prizes. “Vaccination is our way back to the things we love and the people we miss,” Virgin CEO Jayne Hrdlicka said. “And most importantly, it’s the only way we can protect the lives and livelihoods of all Australians.” “We are all in this together and the sooner we are vaccinated to the thresholds required by government, the sooner we can return to a quality way of life that includes travelling freely within our own country and abroad,” she added. As well as giving one lucky winner the chance to become a points millionaire, there are 250 other prizes to win including 100,000 points, 10,000 points, free flights, lounge memberships and pyjama sets. The total competition prize pool is valued at more than $150,000 with the major prize making one lucky Australian a Velocity Frequent Flyer Points millionaire. Other prizes include Business Class flights, Virgin Australia Lounge memberships and dozens of the airline’s popular pyjama sets. How to enter VA-X & Win Receive both doses of a COVID-19 approved vaccine Visit virginaustralia.com/vaxandwin when the comp launches this week Enter your name, email address and Velocity Frequent Flyer member number in the entry fields by midnight 31 December 2021. Virgin Australia employee vaccination promotion Virgin Australia is also moving towards mandatory vaccination for all employees. Virgin Australia has also opened a promotion for vaccinated employees who get the jab before 15 November 2021. Incentives include a holiday to Hamilton Island, additional annual leave, Business Class flights and Lounge memberships. A recent survey of Virgin Australia team members found that over 75 per cent of the frontline workforce have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, with another 9 per cent registered for vaccination*. The airline is aiming to have all frontline staff vaccinated by November 15, 2021, and all office-based workers by March 31, 2022. The launch of VA-X & Win comes after Qantas kicked off its own vaccination rewards campaign earlier this month, with vaccinated frequent flyers able to choose between free points, status credits and a $20 flight voucher. The national carrier is also offering 10 mega draws to win a year of free Qantas and Jetstar flights. Winners will be notified by 13 January 2022. All winners will be required to provide proof of vaccination through an easy-to-use verification process, details of which will be provided upon notification of their winning entry. Proof of vaccination collected from the winners will not be retained by Virgin Australia after vaccination status has been verified.
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