V Australia to fly to Phuket, Johannesburg, Los Angeles and Fiji from Australia

V Australia, the long-haul subsidiary airline of Virgin Blue, is planning new flights from cities in Australia to Phuket, the famed beach resort in Thailand, Johannesburg in South Africa, Los Angeles in the United States, and Fiji.

In a press release, V Australia (or, Virgin Blue International Airlines), based in Sydney in Australia, said the twice-a-week service to Phuket from Brisbane in Australia will start on November 22, 2009.

The once-a-week flight between Melbourne in Australia and Phuket is scheduled to commence on December 3, 2009.

The two-times-a week service between Melbourne and Johannesburg will start on March 13, 2010.

In addition, V Australia says it will launch twice-weekly flights between Melbourne and Los Angeles on December 1, 2009.

Also, the airline said it has applied for permission to start service between Australia and Fiji. V Australia will use Boeing 777-300ER aircraft for these planned services.

It was in February 2009 that V Australia started operations, with a flight between Sydney and Los Angeles. The Brisbane-Los Angeles flight was added in April
2009.

Brett Godfrey, CEO of Virgin Blue, said in statement that passengers outbound will “experience Australian aviation at its best to the United State, South Africa and
Thailand.”

He also said that the company has great hopes for inbound tourism as it works with its partners to develop traffic into Australia via Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane.

V Australia has begun sale of special launch fares on its website starting from $399 one-way from Melbourne to Phuket, and $1,899 return to Melbourne from Johannesburg.

According to the airline, special launch fares for International Business Class are available from $1,499 one-way to Phuket and from $5,999 return to Johannesburg.

Fares for International Premium Economy are available from $899 one-way to Phuket, and $2,999 return to Johannesburg.

All fares are inclusive of taxes and surcharges.

Brett Godfrey said in the statement that connecting flights are available from other key ports in Australia to both Phuket and Johannesburg.

V Australia, Brett Godfrey added, became an “instant hit” with passengers in Australia and the United States because of the airline’s “blend of Virgin service and a

fresh take on fully inclusive, premium airline travel at consistently affordable fares.”

Meanwhile, V Australia said it will soon take delivery of its 4th Boeing 777-300ER plane, which has a 3-class configuration.

According to aviation analysts, most Australians opt for Phuket mainly because Phuket is closer to Australia and “more economical” than Bangkok, the capital of Thailand, since flying to Bangkok and then back to Phuket involves additional time and money.