Virgin cuts eight routes

VIRGIN Australia has withdrawn services from eight destinations “for the foreseeable future”, with flights to Nukuʻalofa, as well as Albury, Cloncurry, Hervey Bay, Mildura, Port Macquarie, Tamworth and Uluru scrapped due to Virgin’s fleet simplification and ongoing customer demand.

Virgin Australia said that despite the cuts, it remained committed to rural Australia and the remaining 20 regional destinations it still flies to.

“We will continue to review our network as travel restrictions ease and demand returns,” a Virgin Australia spokesperson told Travel Daily.

VA said it would contact affected guests who booked direct to advise them of their options, while those booked through a travel agent will need to contact them directly.

The underperforming routes were under review prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, with shutdown accelerating the carrier’s decision to withdraw.

MEANWHILE, Virgin’s recent restructuring has also seen its partnership with Delta Air Lines temporarily suspended.

The two airlines have held a pact for nearly a decade on services between Australia and the United States (TD 11 Dec 2009), and plan to resume their partnership once long-haul flying can recommence.

VA said despite the pause, there was no real change for consumers, with the partners continuing to offer reciprocal frequent flyer benefits and final destination checked baggage.

Delta will also continue to codeshare on Virgin domestic routes, and VA guests will be able to book through-travel on DL flights to North America.