Virgin Australia is following in the footsteps of its major competitor, Qantas, by sending its budget off-shoot Tigerair to Bali.
Currently, Virgin Australia’s premium operations are up against low-cost carrier Jetstar on services between Australia and Denpasar.
However, from 23 March next year, Virgin will move its budget airline, Tigerair onto flights from Adelaide, Melbourne and Perth to Bali – Tigerair’s first international destination. On the same date, Virgin will withdraw its services on the same routes.
The move comes as part of Virgin’s plans to ‘optimise its international network’ and is likely to make fares to the popular Southeast Asia destination a little more competitive for Aussie travellers.
Tigerair is on its way to Bali.
Tigerair will fly Adelaide-Denpasar five times weekly; and Melbourne-Denpasar and Perth-Denpasar daily.
The budget airline’s CEO, Rob Sharp said providing these international services is a ‘major milestone’ and will give Australians access to lower airfares to the popular destination.
“We look forward to bringing our customers great in-flight entertainment, delicious meal options and our friendly customer service on these new routes.”
Rob Sharp, Tigerair CEO
Changes help Virgin optimise its international network.
In addition to withdrawing from Bali, Virgin revealed it will also stop flying Perth-Phuket, with the last flight operating on 31 January 2016.
Changes will be effective in Virgin’s booking system from 7 August 2015. Customers booked on services for travel after the last flights will be contacted with alternative options.
Meanwhile, from 25 October this year, Virgin said it will increase capacity to New Zealand, Fiji, Samoa and the Solomon Islands to meet ‘customer demand on key trans-Tasman and short-haul international routes’.
Virgin introduces additional seasonal flights to Samoa.
The airline will add two return weekly services between Sydney and Christchurch from 25 October and one weekly return service between Melbourne and Christchurch from 6 November 2015.
Additional seasonal capacity will operated on Brisbane-Auckland; Brisbane-Dunedin; Brisbane-Wellington; and Brisbane-Christchurch.
There’ll also more seasonal services added on routes Brisbane-Apia; Brisbane-Honiara; Brisbane-Nadi; and Sydney-Nadi.
