12/07/2011: Virgin Australia Absorbs V Australia

DALLAS — In 2009, Long-haul international airline V Australia began operating international flights, and in 2011, it merged with Virgin Australia (VA).

V Australia's origins can be traced back to 2006, the year when Virgin Blue sought to establish an international subsidiary.

After obtaining permission to operate up to ten weekly flights between Australia and the US, V Australia launched with a fleet of five Boeing 777-330ERs. The carrier's name was selected through a public competition in June 2007, and the aircraft was configured with a three-class layout accommodating 353 seats.

Take Off!

Operations began on February 27, 2009, with a flight from Sydney (SYD) to Los Angeles (LAX). Subsequently, V Australia established hubs in Melbourne (MEL) and Brisbane (BNE) and introduced services to Abu Dhabi (AUH), Johannesburg (JNB), Nadi (NAN), and Phuket (HKT). However, plans to launch flights to various North American destinations, such as Las Vegas (LAS) and New York (JFK), never came to fruition.

In early 2011, the management of Virgin Blue (now Virgin Australia) announced a complete rebranding effort aimed at attracting business travelers away from Qantas (QF). As part of this campaign, V Australia and Pacific Blue (DJ) were incorporated into the new airline.

Unfortunately, the COVID-19 pandemic had a significant impact on Virgin Australia. In April 2020, the airline entered voluntary administration and underwent a comprehensive restructuring. This involved the suspension of its long-haul routes and the retirement of its fleet of Boeing 777 aircraft.

Featured image: V Australia Boeing 777-300ER (VH-VPF).