V Australia, the international long-haul arm of Virgin Blue, is to fly to Phuket in Thailand and Johannesburg in late 2009 and early 2010.
The Phuket route will operate from Melbourne once a week from December 3, while the Victorian state capital will be joined to South Africa’s commercial and financial centre twice a week from March 13, 2010.
The new destinations follow the airline’s launch of flights to Los Angeles from Brisbane and Sydney. Flights to Los Angeles from Melbourne will also start on December 1, two months later than originally planned. The direct flight will operate twice a week.
V Australia will also start a second Phuket service, twice-weekly from Brisbane, from November 22.
The new flights break the Qantas and South African Airways duopoly on Australia-Johannesburg routes, which fly out of Sydney and Perth respectively.
V Australia has announced special launch fares on the airline’s website starting from AU$399 (US$329) one way to Phuket and AU$1899 (US$1,566) return to Johannesburg from Melbourne.
Special launch fares for International Business Class are also available from AU$1,499 (US$1,236) one-way to Phuket and AU$5,999 (US$4,950) return to Johannesburg, while International Premium Economy fares are available from AU$899 (US$741) one-way to Phuket and AU$2,999 (US$2,474) return to Johannesburg.
V Australia is also to launch a daily Sydney-Nadi services replacing Pacific Blue flights between Australia and Fiji before the end of the year.
For further details please see www.vaustralia.com.au
Kenny Coyle
