Virgin Australia has received regulatory approval to expand its international network with direct services to Hong Kong and China.
The International Air Services Commission (IASC) gave Virgin the green light last week, for 1,925 seats per week to China and seven flights a week to Hong Kong. Approval will last up to five years, after which Virgin will have to reapply.
In its approval, the aviation body described the Australia-China route as “highly competitive” and expects Virgin Australia’s proposed operations will give Australians more choice.
Daily flights to Beijing and Hong Kong will be operated by the Airbus A330-200s alongside its new alliance partner and shareholder, HNA Aviation. The airline is yet to reveal which Australian destinations the services will operate from.
Virgin’s Chief Executive, John Borghetti, said both the airline and HNA Aviation will work to promote traffic on the new routes and expects there to be “a lot of attraction” in operating to Beijing.
“There is also a lot of attraction of operating into Hong Kong but that is still being worked through so let’s see.”
John Borghetti, Virgin Australia Chief Executive
Image: Vogel / Shutterstock.com
According to the IASC, the Australia-China route has grown on average 12 percent every year for the last five years. Bureau of Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Economics found China Southern holds the highest share of passenger traffic between the two countries, followed by Cathay Pacific, China Eastern, Qantas and Air China.
Meanwhile, Air New Zealand confirmed today that it has completed the sale of 19.98 percent of Virgin Australia shares to the Nanshan Group. As a result of the sale, the carrier now only holds around 5.9 percent in the Australian airline.