Virgin Blue launches Newcastle - Brisbane flights early

Virgin Blue is to launch its direct service between Brisbane-Newcastle (Williamtown) on Tuesday 4 May, three days earlier than planned, as well as re-timing the flights for the convenience of both leisure and business travellers.

The new schedule means daily flights will now depart Newcastle at 10.25am arriving in Brisbane at 11.40am before turning around and departing at 12.20pm, arriving at Williamtown at 1.30pm.

Virgin Blue Chief Executive, Brett Godfrey, said, "The sheer number of advance bookings we've received even before the launch of the service has given us the confidence to commit to a more convenient schedule that better meets the needs of our Guests."

Virgin Blue's everyday low fares between Newcastle-Brisbane start from $59 one-way on the net, with a Fully Flexible Virgin Blue fare of $199 one-way.

In addition to the schedule change for Newcastle-Brisbane the airline has also announced a change in timing for its existing Newcastle-Melbourne service.

The new schedule between Williamtown and Melbourne will allow for a convenient early-afternoon departure from Newcastle which will arrive in the Victorian capital mid-afternoon.

Brett Godfrey continued, "We have only been operating to Newcastle a little more than four months and here we are changing our schedule to provide the people and businesses of the Hunter with a more convenient schedule to not only Melbourne and Brisbane but to just about every major destination in Australia."

"We hope the support we've received so far continues into the future because we plan to return that support by not only increasing frequencies but by adding more direct services from the Hunter region to more destinations", Brett Godfrey finished.