V Australia launches Melbourne - Los Angeles + Phuket Flights

V Australia, Virgin Blue’s new three-class long-haul international airline, will turn its full focus to the state of Victoria this week, with the launch of two new international routes direct from Melbourne. The launch heralds V Australia’s first foray into Victoria with the boutique carrier beginning non-stop services from Melbourne to the United States of America (Los Angeles) as well as Thailand (Phuket).

The airline will operate the new routes with Boeing 777-300 aircraft that features a three class cabin including 33 fully lie-flat beds in International Business, 40 International Club seats in Premium Economy and 288 Economy seats.

Virgin Blue Chief Executive, Brett Godfrey, said, “We are excited to be launching not just one, but two new international routes from Melbourne within a few days of each other and just in time for the peak holiday season. We identified both the US and Thailand as two highly desirable holiday destinations, with the US also a key business route for Victorians. Our aim is to stimulate both leisure and business traffic, provide incentives via affordable and high quality, comfortable flying options and open up opportunities for US based companies to do more business in Victoria and vice versa.”

To celebrate the new route, V Australia has launched a A$689 one-way “High Tail It To Hollywood” launch fare on sale until midnight 15 December 2009, for travel on direct flights between Melbourne and Los Angeles from 1 February to 31 Mar 2010.

Lead-in fares start from A$1650 return on the net for International Economy, A$3620 for Premium Economy and A$9875 for all the bells and whistles in V Australia’s International Business Class Cabin. All fares are fully inclusive of taxes and surcharges with the direct flights departing from Melbourne to Los Angeles every Tuesday and Saturday.

Flights to Phuket take off this Thursday, 3 December with special “Tuk Tuk Off to Phuket” fares on sale for A$399 one-way until midnight 7 December 2009, for travel on direct flights between Melbourne and Phuket from 3 December - 17 December 2009 and 15 January - 31 May 2010.

Lead-in fares start from A$499 one-way on the net for International Economy, A$899 for Premium Economy and A$1499 for International Business Class Cabin. Fares are fully inclusive of taxes and surcharges with the direct flights departing from Melbourne to Phuket every Thursday and returning Friday’s, with return connections available via Brisbane or Perth.

“Melbourne and Victoria are an important part of our long term growth plan for V Australia and this is clearly demonstrated in the fact that V Australia’s next launch flight will be the direct Melbourne-Johannesburg services scheduled for take-off in March next year. Melbourne will be the only city to have direct flights to all three V Australia international destinations,” added Virgin Blue Chief Executive, Brett Godfrey.

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