Virgin Australia
 |
|||||||
|
|||||||
| Founded | 1999 (as Virgin Blue) | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Commenced operations | 31 August 2000 | ||||||
| Hubs | |||||||
| Focus cities | |||||||
| Frequent-flyer program | Velocity Frequent Flyer | ||||||
| Fleet size | 121 | ||||||
| Destinations | 54 | ||||||
| Company slogan | Now you're flying | ||||||
| Parent company | Virgin Australia Holdings | ||||||
| Headquarters | Bowen Hills, Brisbane | ||||||
| Key people |
|
||||||
| Revenue |
 A$4.7 billion (2015) |
||||||
| Operating income |
 A-$49 million (2015) |
||||||
| Total assets |
A$5.8 billion (2015) |
||||||
| Total equity |
A$1 billion (2015) |
||||||
| Website | virginaustralia.com | ||||||
Virgin Australia Airlines Pty Ltd, formerly Virgin Blue Airlines, is Australia's second-largest airline after Qantas and it is the largest airline by fleet size to use the 'Virgin' brand. Now based in Bowen Hills, Brisbane, the airline was co-founded by British businessman Richard Branson, the founder of parent Virgin Group and former Virgin Blue CEO Brett Godfrey. It was established in November 1999 with two aircraft operating on a single route, and suddenly found itself catapulted to the position of Australia's second airline after the collapse of Ansett Australia in September 2001. The airline has grown to directly serve 29 cities in Australia from hubs in Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney, using a fleet of narrow-body Boeing and Embraer jets; and Airbus and Boeing widebody jets.
After several years operating as a low-cost carrier it improved its services to become a so-called (self-described) "New World Carrier" – essentially a business model which offers the "guest" the choice of purchasing a ticket with aspects of the "no frills" approach of low-cost carriers or paying a little more to receive services more in line with full-service airlines – to compete more effectively with Qantas in the business travel market. In 2011 it took this strategy further by introducing new uniforms; new catering options on board; new widebody aircraft to compete with Qantas on Perth–Melbourne–Sydney services; and the concurrent introduction of business class in January 2012; together with a new livery and renaming of the brand to Virgin Australia.
Virgin Australia was launched as Virgin Blue in August 2000, with two Boeing 737-400 aircraft, one of which was leased from then-sister airline Virgin Express. Initially offering seven return flights a day between Brisbane and Sydney, this has since been expanded to cover all major Australian cities and many holiday destinations. The Virgin Blue name was the result of an open competition; it was a play on the predominantly red livery and the Australian slang tradition of calling a red-headed male 'Blue' or 'Bluey'.
...
Wikipedia