Virgin Australia has scrapped plans to fly between Perth and Abu Dhabi, four months before the new service was scheduled to takeoff.
The three weekly flights were announced in September last year, when the carrier said it would cease its Sydney-Abu Dhabi services and reduce its Brisbane-Los Angeles services to operate on the new route.
However, in a statement the airline said market changes have made the route “no longer viable” for its network, forcing the carrier to cancel the new addition.
Instead, the carrier’s customers wanting to fly to Abu Dhabi from Perth will need to do so through Virgin’s alliance partner, Etihad Airways, which operates daily from Western Australia.
“Virgin Australia will continue to explore opportunities to bring choice and competition to travel from Perth.”
Virgin Australia statement
Customers booked to travel with the carrier between Perth and Abu Dhabi will be re-accommodated on Etihad services and will be provided with new flight details.
Meanwhile, Virgin Australia’s plans to fly to China for the first time are on track, with the carrier confirming earlier this month that it was waiting for the Aussie watchdog to sign off on a new airline alliance with its investors HNA Aviation, Hong Kong Airlines and HK Express.
Once approved, the Aussie airline will operate direct services between Australia and Hong Kong as well as Australia and mainland China.