Australia's second-largest airline, connecting the nation.
Founded
2000
Headquarters
Brisbane, Australia
Virgin Australia is a major Australian airline headquartered in Brisbane, operating scheduled domestic and international services. Founded in 2000 as Virgin Blue, it rebranded to Virgin Australia in 2011 as part of a strategy to compete more directly with Qantas in the full-service segment.
The airline entered voluntary administration in April 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic and was subsequently acquired by Bain Capital in November 2020. Under new ownership, Virgin Australia refocused on its domestic network and a mid-market positioning, discontinuing long-haul international routes.
Today, Virgin Australia operates a fleet of Boeing 737 aircraft across an extensive domestic Australian network, with select short-haul international services to destinations in the Pacific region. It remains Australia's second-largest airline by market share.
Hubs & network
Virgin Australia's primary hubs are Brisbane Airport, Melbourne Airport, and Sydney Airport.
Fleet
Virgin Australia operates a fleet composed primarily of Boeing 737-800 and 737 MAX aircraft.
Notable facts
›Originally founded as Virgin Blue in 2000 as a low-cost carrier.
›Rebranded to Virgin Australia in 2011 to pursue a full-service market strategy.
›Entered voluntary administration in April 2020 due to COVID-19 financial pressures.
›Acquired by private equity firm Bain Capital in November 2020.
›Operates the Velocity Frequent Flyer loyalty program, which was separately sold and then reintegrated.
This profile is provided for general information only. Contact details may be inaccurate or outdated — always verify with the airline's official website before acting on them.
Virgin Australia, formerly known as Virgin Blue, is an Australian airline based in Brisbane, Queensland. It is one of two active airlines to use the Virgin brand, as well as the larger by fleet size. It commenced services on 31 August 2000 with two aircraft on a single route, before suddenly emerging as a major airline in Australia's domestic market after the collapse of Ansett Australia in September 2001. With the airline's business model incorporating features of both a low-cost and full-service airline, it has since grown to become Australia’s largest domestic airline by passenger market share, as of December 2024. As of June 2025, the airline serves 33 destinations across Australia with its Boeing 737 fleets, operating from its hubs in Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney, as well as from its secondary hubs in Adelaide and Perth. The airline also operates a limited number of short-haul international flights.