Virgin Launches New Onboard Menus, and More Affordable Fares

New onboard menus have been introduced on all Virgin Australia flights from today to give customers more choice and better value.

The menus include a fresh and delicious new Business Class menu focused on quality and simplicity and a buy onboard menu of popular snacks and drinks for Economy guests.

• Highly anticipated new Business Class menu revealed, featuring locally sourced produce supporting Australian growers and farmers
• Extensive choice with a new Economy buy onboard menu featuring popular snacks and drinks
• Better value for Business and Economy guests, following the up to 20 per cent reductions to Business Class fares made in November 2020

Business Class Menu

Virgin’s new business-class menu will rotate on a bi-monthly basis and comes with all-inclusive premium Australian wine and beer, plus soft beverages and spirits.

Sarah Adam, general manager of product and customer at Virgin, said the new business-class menu had been designed with altitude in mind.

“It’s well-known that when you’re high above the clouds, you lose some sense of taste and smell, so this was a really important factor in designing the new menu so our food not only looks great but tastes great in the air,” she said.

“We’ve really dialled-up the flavours in the food with the right seasoning and textures to provide a very competitive business-class experience for domestic travel in Australia.

“Supporting Australian farmers and producers was another important factor in designing the menu, so we’ll have seasonal Australian produce from local producers in dishes throughout the year.”

The airline’s new business-class experience also triggered a training refresh for Virgin cabin crew, with new hospitality standards that focus on customer engagement allowing more time in the cabin with guests.

Economy Class Menu

Following significant time spent with consumers and Virgin Australia team members, the airline has found that travellers would prefer to choose their own food and beverage in a buy onboard model on domestic flights, instead of receiving a predetermined snack.

The new Economy buy onboard menu is designed to give travellers greater value, taking the previously included snack out of the ticket price, to provide great value fares every day.

Initially, the menu will feature the most popular snack and beverage items, including cheese and crackers and Australian wine, before a greater range of menu items are introduced later in the year when travel demand is expected to resume to near pre-COVID levels.

As part of the Economy experience, Virgin Australia will continue to serve complimentary tea, coffee and water on every flight.

More Affordable Airfares

Following a reduction in the price of Business Class fares of up to 20 percent last November in comparison with pre-COVID-19 prices, Virgin Australia also announced today that the airline will undertake a further review of its Business and Economy Class fare brands.

According to the airline, the new fare brands will deliver better value for travellers, provide more flexibility and choice when compared to travelling prior to COVID-19. The significant win for consumers will make a seat in Business Class more accessible than ever before.

This announcement was followed by the reopening of all seven Virgin Australia domestic Lounges, including a new-look Lounge of the future in Adelaide, a flexible booking policy until 31 January 2022, a five-year sponsorship renewal with the AFL, the inaugural Virgin Australia Pride Flight, the airline’s first-ever onboard wedding, and the Federal Government’s Aviation Support Package, which includes half-price fares.

By Joe Cusmano