From humble beginnings, launching as the first sustainable low fare airline in Australian skies, Virgin Blue has grown to be recognised the world over as an innovator and leader in the global aviation industry.

Virgin Blue took off on 31 August 2000 with two aircraft, one route and 200 team members who shared a clear goal to revolutionise air travel in Australia. 

Not only did the airline halve the cost of airfares, it also re-introduced genuine Guest service to the flying public along with a strong commitment to being the best in the business.

Since its launch Virgin Blue has evolved from a start-up entrepreneurial business to become Australia’s leading major airline for service, on-time performance and value for money, as well as being one of the world’s most profitable airline Groups incorporating Virgin Blue, Pacific Blue (Aust), Pacific Blue (NZ), Polynesian Blue and V Australia.

Virgin Blue was listed on the Australian Stock Exchange in December 2003, and today is owned by majority shareholder Virgin Group, co-founder CEO Brett Godfrey, Virgin Blue staff and other shareholders.

In January 2004, the airline launched Pacific Blue, its New Zealand based leisure focussed international airline which offers flights between Australia, New Zealand, the Cook Islands, Fiji, Tonga and Vanuatu.

In October 2005, Virgin Blue joined with the Government of Samoa to launch ‘Polynesian Blue’, an innovative joint venture airline that provides essential and affordable air services between Samoa, New Zealand and Australia.

We are proud to say that in its first year Polynesian Blue was named 2006 ‘New Airline of the Year’ at the prestigious Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation (CAPA) Aviation Awards for Excellence.

With its evolving business strategy, Virgin Blue is becoming more relevant to the corporate market whilst retaining and keeping its promise to serving its traditional leisure base.  Over 75 per cent of the Top 200 ASX listed companies now holding corporate accounts with Virgin Blue.
The airline offers a wide range of added extras for travellers including:

• a special Corporate Plus fare which offers flexible terms and conditions for business travellers.
• Velocity, our frequent flyer program.
• The Lounge, Virgin Blue’s all-inclusive business friendly airport lounges now in Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne, Adelaide and Canberra.
• An extensive choice of code-share and interline partners giving travellers access to a global airline network.
• Blue Holidays – Virgin Blue’s comprehensive holiday program

The airline also recently unveiled its Premium Economy product designed to meet the needs of contemporary business and government travellers with greater choice and a range of benefits including premier 2x2 seating.

In an Australian first, Virgin Blue also joined forces with FOXTEL to launch the revolutionary ‘live2air’ technology, which allows travellers to view 24 live FOXTEL and AUSTAR channels from personal seatback screens, just as they would in their own lounge room at home.
In March 2007, Virgin Blue launched the world’s first government-endorsed Greenhouse Friendly carbon off-set program, where Guests can affordably offset carbon emissions from their flights.  The airline has also committed to offsetting the flights of the entire Virgin Blue workforce when flying for duty or business, which equates to approximately $500,000 per year over five years.

In March 2007, Virgin Blue also confirmed its intentions to start a new international airline for Australia, V Australia, with the signing of an order for six Boeing 777-300ER aircraft.  V Australia will launch direct services between Sydney and LA from 15 December 2008 and Brisbane and LA from 1 March 2009 subject to government approvals.

Virgin Blue has been recognised with numerous awards over the years from service to IT innovation and was awarded the prestigious OAG Low Fare Carrier of the Year for both 2004 and 2005.  More recently, for the third year in a row Virgin Blue has taken out Australia’s ‘Best National Airline’ and Australia’s ‘Best Regional Airline’ awards over finalists Qantas for the national award and REX and Qantaslink for the regional award.  On top of the two awards Virgin Blue was also inducted into the afta NTIA Hall of Fame.

With more than 31 per cent of the domestic market and a modern fleet of 68 Next Generation Boeing 737-700 and 800 series and Embraer E-190 and E-170 aircraft, Virgin Blue Airlines currently operates over 2100 flights a week to 24 Australian cities and centres and eight international destinations incorporating ports in New Zealand, Fiji, Vanuatu, Tonga, Samoa and the Cook Islands.  Virgin Blue’s total annual passenger numbers exceeds 15-million travellers.