49 Facts About Virgin Blue

Virgin Australia, the trading name of Virgin Australia Airlines Pty Ltd, is an Australian-based airline.

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'.

Ansett's failure allowed Virgin Blue to grow rapidly to become Australia's second domestic carrier, rather than staying just a cut-price alternative to the established players.

Virgin Blue Group's holding in Virgin Blue Australia was later reduced, initially via a sale of a half interest to Australian logistics conglomerate Patrick Corporation, and later by a public float.

Virgin Blue previously used a familiar formula pioneered by airlines such as Southwest Airlines and Ryanair of eliminating costs such as included in-flight meals and printed tickets in favour of selling food on-board and using telephone and internet booking systems.

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At its inception in 2000, Virgin Blue did not have interline or marketing alliances with other airlines.

In 2006, in an effort to compete with Qantas, Virgin Blue started exploring these relationships, forming frequent flyer agreements with Emirates, Hawaiian Airlines and Malaysia Airlines.

Virgin Blue had an Interline Agreement with Regional Express Airlines for travellers to and from smaller regional centres in the eastern states of Australia, and operated its own two routes with Virgin Australia Regional Airlines in Western Australia.

Virgin Blue subsequently announced an agreement with Vietnam Airlines which allowed passengers to fly from Melbourne and Sydney and connect with Vietnam Airlines' destinations through its flight network.

In December 2010, Virgin Blue entered into alliances with Etihad Airways and Air New Zealand for code-sharing, reciprocal lounge and frequent flyer access and other co-operational projects.

Virgin Blue entered into talks with Delta Air Lines about the possibility of joining SkyTeam, one of the top three alliances in the world, as V Australia and Delta sought approval for an agreement between the two airlines to co-operate on trans-Pacific services.

In early 2006, Virgin Blue announced its intention to operate up to seven flights a week to the US through either Los Angeles or San Francisco.

In February 2011, the re-brand was confirmed when the airline announced that the word 'Virgin Blue' would be dropped from its name as part of a campaign to attract more business travellers away from rival Qantas.

On 4 May 2011, the former Virgin Blue revealed its new name, Virgin Australia, as well as its new livery.

Early in 2011 it was announced that Virgin Blue had signed a ten-year deal with Perth-based regional airline Skywest Airlines, for Skywest to operate up to 18 ATR-72 turboprop aircraft leased by Virgin, in order to better compete in east coast regional markets served by QantasLink and Regional Express Airlines.

Virgin Blue intended to launch flights between Australian destinations and Beijing and Hong Kong by 2017 to consolidate the agreement.

On 31 March 2020, Virgin Blue Australia confirmed it had asked the Federal Government for a $1.

Qantas responded by noting its revenue was three times higher than Virgin Blue's, meaning that if Virgin Blue was bailed-out they should be given a $4.

Virgin Blue's began operating later that month to Hong Kong twice weekly and once weekly to Los Angeles.

On 21 April 2020, Virgin Blue Australia confirmed it had gone into voluntary administration, citing its inability to continue operations without a Federal Government bailout.

In September 2003, Pacific Virgin Blue was set up to offer a low-cost service between New Zealand and Australia.

Pacific Virgin Blue aimed to position itself as a low-cost competitor to Air New Zealand and Qantas on trans-Tasman routes.

Pacific Virgin Blue operated services on behalf of the Polynesian Virgin Blue joint-venture with the government of Samoa.

Since its inception, Virgin Blue had sponsored many sporting teams in a bid to promote its brand.

In February 2007, Virgin Blue signed a two-year sponsorship deal with NRL team the South Sydney Rabbitohs.

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Virgin Blue Australia is the official sponsor of the National Basketball League, and the title sponsor of NBL team the Brisbane Bullets.

Virgin Blue gained extra revenue by painting two aircraft as "flying billboards".

In 2007, Virgin Blue introduced an advertising campaign with the slogan "Get What You Want", named after the song by Queensland band Operator Please that featured in its TV advertisements.

In 2009, Virgin Blue introduced an all new advertising campaign entitled "Now there's an idea".

Virgin Blue Australia became a sponsor of the newest AFL clubs, the Gold Coast Suns and Greater Western Sydney Giants, in 2011 and 2014 respectively.

Virgin Blue Australia appear as a sponsor on the guernseys of the Carlton Football Club since June 2017 initially due to the loss of a sponsor of the club, but Carlton announced in August 2017 that the partnership will be extended until the end of the 2022 AFL season.

In November 2006, Virgin Blue announced plans to purchase 11 Embraer 190 and 3 Embraer 170 aircraft with options for six more E-jets, which later became orders for an additional three E170s and three E190s.

Virgin Blue received its first Embraer 170 in early September 2007 at a special ceremony at the Embraer plant in Sao Jose dos Campos.

On 24 October 2007, Virgin Blue Australia announced the introduction of premium economy on all domestic flights.

Virgin Blue Australia began long haul international operations as V Australia, commencing its first passenger flight operations on 27 February 2009.

On 10 January 2011, Virgin Blue entered a 10-year strategic alliance with Perth-based Skywest Airlines, to operate up to 18 new Virgin-branded turboprop aircraft from mid-2011.

On 25 January 2012, Virgin Blue Australia announced additional services between Brisbane, Proserpine, Rockhampton and Cairns.

On 26 February 2013, Virgin Blue Australia announced it would start flights between Brisbane and Bundaberg on 4 May 2013.

In July 2012, Virgin Blue Australia announced an order for 23 Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft, with deliveries planned to be between 2019 and 2021.

In December 2020, Virgin Blue cancelled orders for the MAX 8 and revised its order to just 25 MAX 10s with the planned delivery date deferred to mid-2023.

Virgin Blue Australia offers a business class service on most of its jet aircraft.

Virgin Blue Australia offered business class passengers a "sophisticated" gourmet menu created by Australian chef Luke Mangan.

In December 2006, Virgin Australia announced a partnership between Australian cable television providers Foxtel and Austar, to introduce a "Live2Air" service on most flights by mid-2007.

In December 2012, Virgin Blue Australia introduced an in-flight Wi-Fi system to provide music, movies and TV shows to tablets, smartphones, laptops and similar devices.

In 2018, Virgin Blue Australia began upgrading the in-flight Wi-Fi system in order to offer wireless internet access.

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Many of these facilities became available when Virgin relocated into the former Ansett terminals across the country, with the defunct Golden Wing club lounges left behind being used as Blue Room lounges, complete with furnishings.

In 2006, Virgin Blue revamped the lounge facilities and re-launched the product as The Lounge, which offered all-inclusive facilities on a membership fee or casual fee basis.

In May 2011, Virgin Blue again renamed the lounge simply referring to it as Virgin Blue Australia Lounge – designed to be a premium experience, with spaces designed for specific uses and 'moods'.

Virgin Blue Australia launched its frequent-flyer program Velocity Rewards in 2005, with partner National Australia Bank offering a companion credit card.