Virgin Australia is poised to expand its short-haul international operations this year, with the carrier indicating that flights to Samoa and Vanuatu will begin in March.
Virginaustralia.com.au confirm plans for Virgin Australia flights to Apia, Samoa from Brisbane and Sydney, with Virgin offering two weekly Boeing 737- 800 frequencies from each city.
Virgin Australia Sydney-Apia flights are planned to commence on 21 March, each Tuesday and Saturday, with a daytime departure from Sydney at 9 am, arriving at 5 pm in Apia and the return service departing Apia at 6.05 pm, landing at 9.40 pm in Sydney.
Starting two days later, on 23 March, Virgin Australia’s new Brisbane flights to Samoa will operate as an overnight sector, departing Brisbane at 9.25 pm every Wednesday and Sunday and arriving at 5.10 am the following day, while the return service will depart Apia at 6.10 am and arrive back in Brisbane at 8.55 am.
Virgin will also return to Vanuatu with five weekly Brisbane-Port Vila services effective from 10 March, dropping back to three per week between 08 May and 16 June.
With the delivery of the longer-range Boeing 737 MAX aircraft this year, Virgin might open even more destinations abroad.