Virgin Australia: omicron rips through staff – flights suspended

This is where the rubber hits the tarmac, or in this case, not.

Virgin Australia is facing huge staffing difficulties causing the cancellation of 25% of scheduled flights in January and February caused by our politicians ‘let it rip’ attitude to COVID-19.

10 routes have been suspended, including VA’s only overseas route to Fiji which just recommenced less than a month ago on 16 December 2021.

Lucas Baird in the AFR is quoting CEO Jayne Hrdlicka’s assurance that this change is only temporary:

“We do know that as we make the shift to living with COVID-19 there will continue to be changes in all our lives and we look forward to continuing to connect our guests with their families, friends, colleagues. We sincerely apologise for the inconvenience caused to any guest impacted by the changes to our flight schedule during this time.”

Jayne Hrdlicka CEO Virgin Australia

Suspended Routes

• Adelaide – Darwin
• Adelaide – Cairns
• Adelaide – Sunshine Coast
• Coffs Harbour – Melbourne
• Hamilton Island – Melbourne
• Sydney – Townsville
• Melbourne – Townsville
• Gold Coast – Launceston
• Gold Coast – Hobart
• Sydney – Fiji

These don’t look like the most cherished routes, but they will still piss off holidaymakers.

What to do if you are booked on one of these routes

Some routes have been temporarily cancelled, while others are still running but with reduced frequency and capacity. Virgin Australia will attempt to re-book affected passengers, but you are best to get in contact as soon as possible

If you have booked directly with Virgin Australia – contact them (at least they have shorter delays in answering that Qantas, apparently.) on 13 67 89 in Australia. If outside Australia, head over to this page on their website.

If you have booked through another site, or through a travel agent – you need to get in touch with them in the first instance.

2PAXfly Takeout

This is another timely reminder to wear your seatbelt when seated. Holding you close to your seat will protect you from the sort of injuries sustained on this flight, when unsecured passengers flew to the ceiling of the aircraft, and then came crashing down once the ‘drop’ ceased.

The hope will be that this is an anomaly – a ‘freak accident’ in casual parlance. If it is a systemic error either mechanical or electronic, then this is a larger concern for the airlines that fly Boeing Dreamliner 787 aircraft. Let’s hope it isn’t. If it is, it will pile on the woes to Boeing’s existing stack.

I’d be on to my online VA account to check booking status and advice ASAP. I would do that before I shouted at and cursed Scovid, our esteemed prime minister. You should do the shouting bit, but just after you do the re-booking bit.