Virgin Australia is expanding its short haul international network, announcing the launch of a new route and resuming another that was halted during the pandemic.
Gold Coast to Bali
On March 29, 2023, Virgin Australia launched its inaugural flight from Gold Coast Coolangatta Airport (OOL) to Bali’s Ngurah Rai International Airport (DPS), marking the first direct commercial flight between the two cities.
The airline said that the flights will operate daily during holiday periods and four times a week year-round.
The inaugural flight was celebrated with a Bintang Yoga session at the departure gate at OOL airport, playfully combining the two things that Bali is most famous for.
“We are incredibly excited to see this service take off, representing the latest step in growing our international footprint, which consists of over 500 destinations around the world through Virgin Australia and our partner airlines,” Virgin Australia chief strategy and transformation officer Alistair Hartley said in a statement.
“It is clear Australians want to get out and travel and have a wonderful experience along the way. The expansion of the Virgin Australia network to include direct flights between the Gold Coast and Bali reflects this,” Hartley added.
Relaunching flights to Port Vila, Vanuatu
The airline also announced that, after a layoff of three years, it has relaunched its services to Port Vila’s Bauerfield International Airport (VLI), Vanuatu’s capital, from Brisbane Airport (BNE) as of March 31, 2023.
The direct services will operate on the airline’s Boeing 737-800 aircraft up to five times a week in peak periods, and up to three times weekly in low season.
“This is an important and long standing connection for Virgin Australia, which started flying between Australia and Vanuatu nearly 20 years ago,” Hartley said in a statement.
“It means Australians now have another wonderful Pacific Island destination just a short flight away and an opportunity to enjoy the unique beauty and culture of Vanuatu.”