Virgin Australia: International flights cancelled to August 9

While domestic operations are continuing to mid-July during the Airlines period of voluntary administration, all international fights by Virgin Australia between 15 June and 9 August have now been cancelled.

Apparently, Virgin has received a large number of speculative bookings, which it thinks will end up in no-shows. Consequently, it has decided to cancel all international flights.

The fact that Virgin Australia only has limited cash that it hopes will last until the sale of the airline is completed by end of June is not given as a cause for these international fight cancellations.

Executive Traveller is reporting this based on a note to travel agents it has seen.

If you have a ticket

There are different conditions based on when your ticket was issued. If it was before 20 April 2020 then you are likely to be eligible for a ‘conditional credit’. This refers to the ‘restricted travel vouchers’ being offered by the Virgin administrators in place of cash refunds or regular travel vouchers. The difference is that they are only eligible while the airline is in administration. The new owners of the airline may not honour them.

If you are affected by these flight cancellations, expect to be contacted by Virgin Australia, who will outline all your options.

2PAXfly Takeout

The aviation industry has a difficult road ahead when it comes to sustainability. It’s going to require a relative revolution in technology, with ‘electric planes’ or hydrogen planes, or some form of jet engine that doesn’t require a carbon based fuel. And that is going to require the development of an alternative to jet engines probably.

It’s a big ask. It will take time to develop.

This move to home grown and manufactured SAF is a first step – maybe even a baby step in a very long road of innovation. In the long run, US$200 million won’t even touch the sides.

If you do have an international booking with Virgin Australia falling in that period, then – Good luck!