Virgin shakes up LA route to meet demand

By admin


Virgin Australia has announced changes to its Los Angeles services with its Brisbane service to rise to daily and Melbourne operations to cease, effective October 26. 

Services with the airline from Sydney to Los Angeles will increase to twice daily through a trans-Pacific joint venture with Delta Air Lines. These flights will see a minor change to the departure time to allow an earlier arrival into Los Angeles, creating a more convenient schedule for corporate and leisure travellers.

The increased services from Brisbane will be operated by Virgin Australia’s three-class Boeing 777 aircraft, which offer seatback in-flight entertainment, premium food and beverages and fully-flat bed seats in business class.

To fill the services from Brisbane and Sydney, the airline will cease services between Melbourne and Los Angeles, with the last flight operating from Melbourne on October 25.

Overall there will be no reduction in Virgin Australia capacity between Australia and the US.

The changes are expected to open up travel from Queensland with more choice and flexibility while travellers from Melbourne will still be able to travel to Los Angeles on one ticket with through-checked baggage, connecting through Sydney or Brisbane. 

Virgin Australia’s chief commercial officer Judith Crompton said the airline is working closely with alliance partner Delta Air Lines to review trans-Pacific services to ensure it is "meeting the needs of its customers and commercial objectives.”

Customers that hold tickets on direct Melbourne to Los Angeles service for travel on or after October 26 will be contacted by their travel provider to discuss alternative options. Those travelling on Sydney to Los Angeles services on or after October 26 will receive an email to confirm the new, earlier departure time.

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