A rejig of Virgin Australia’s long-haul schedules will see the reintroduction of Melbourne to Los Angeles services, with a new Perth to Abu Dhabi flight introduced.
After axing flights between Melbourne and Los Angeles in October, 2014, Virgin Australia is making a return to the popular business and leisure route from 4 April, 2017.
Meanwhile Perth is set to have a new departure to Abu Dhabi to complement the carriers partner airline Etihad Airways’ daily flight.
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Melbourne to Los Angeles
Utilising the airline’s flag-ship Boeing 777-300ER aircraft with ‘The Business’, Premium Economy and Economy seating, Virgin Australia returns to the popular route.
Virgin Australia Group CEO John Borghetti said: “The United States is a key market for Virgin Australia and this enables us to service Los Angeles from the three biggest gateways in Australia – Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney.
“In partnership with Delta Air Lines, we will soon offer 25 services each week from Australia to Los Angeles and remain the only trans-Pacific alliance to offer Business Class guests, lie flat beds, with direct aisle access, on all services.”
The new Melbourne to LAX flight comes at the cost of the Sydney to Abu Dhabi route, currently running three times per week. This service will be axed, with alliance partner Etihad Airways upping their service to double daily between Sydney and Abu Dhabi.
Brisbane to Los Angeles will also see a reduction from daily, to six days per week. Brisbane will lose the current VA7 Monday departure, with the return Friday service being removed in favour of Melbourne.
Melbourne to Los Angeles return schedule
Melbourne – Los Angeles (from Tuesday 4 April 2017)
VA23 Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday, Sunday
Depart 1130, arrive 0900 same day
Los Angeles – Melbourne (from Tuesday 4 April 2017)
VA24 Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday
Depart 2110, arrive 0600 +2-days
Perth to Abu Dhabi
Commencing June, 9, 2017, a new city-pair between Perth and Abu Dhabi will be introduced using the carriers wide-body A330-200 aircraft, normally reserved for East Coast services.
The new service will run three days per week, but at the cost of trans-continental service to both Brisbane and Melbourne. Both domestic routes will be downgraded to the B737-800 aircraft.
Connections will be available on the carrier’s partner airline Etihad Airways, onwards to Europe, Africa and the Middle East.
“Our A330 aircraft will be deployed on a long-haul international route for the first time on flights between Perth and Abu Dhabi, which increases the number of services offered on the route from seven to 10 per week through our alliance with Etihad Airways.” Said Virgin Australia Group CEO John Borghetti.
Virgin’s A330 aircraft has the same ‘The Business’ seats in its premium cabin, as it does in the carrier’s 777-300ER. Although the A330 will not have the stylish business class bar as found on the 777 aircraft.
Perth to Abu Dhabi schedule
Perth – Abu Dhabi (from Friday 9 June 2017)
VA11 Tuesday, Friday, Sunday
Depart 2305, arrive 0635 +1-day
Abu Dhabi – Perth (from Saturday 10 June 2017)
VA12 Monday, Wednesday, Saturday
Depart 0820, arrive 2325