(TAN): The Virgin Australia Group will increase domestic flying and introduce new safety and wellbeing measures as state travel restrictions begin to ease and more travellers return to the skies.
The additional services will see Virgin Australia double current capacity by early July, adding approximately 30,000 seats across 320 flights per week to its domestic schedule.
The full domestic schedule can be viewed at: https://travel.virginaustralia.com/au/minimal-network-schedule
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Virgin Australia will also introduce a comprehensive new set of safety and wellbeing measures including pre-departure eligibility and health screening, contactless check-in, more frequent cleaning onboard and at the airport, and expanded social distancing measures.
Virgin Australia Group Chief Commercial Officer John MacLeod said, “By early July, we will have gradually added approximately 30,000 seats across 320 flights per week to our schedule – more than doubling our capacity and providing more flexibility for guests.
“Importantly as travel begins to increase, the safety and wellbeing of guests remains crucial, which is why measures to minimise risks associated with COVID-19 are being introduced. We recommend that any guest who is feeling unwell or has flu-like symptoms, do not travel – flights for travel up until 30 September can be changed without fees if needed.”
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The measures, which will be fully implemented by 12 June have been developed in close collaboration with airlines and airports across Australia as part of the Australian Aviation Recovery Coalition. The measures will continue to be reviewed in line with any changes to its schedule, the latest medical advice, government restrictions and guest feedback.
“We will be adopting contactless check-in, a new sequenced boarding and disembarkation process and guests will see more frequent cleaning of high touch surfaces on the aircraft and within the airport. In addition, a new health questionnaire will be rolled out as part of the check-in process to ensure passengers are fit to fly and to assist with contact tracing,” said Virgin Australia Group Medical Officer Dr Sara Souter.
“It’s important to remember that the inflight environment is very different to that of other modes of group transport, with a range of protective features including hospital-grade air filtration systems, directional airflow and high seat backs between travellers. The international evidence supports very low-risk of COVID-19 transmission inflight, which is also our experience to-date in Australia,” she added.
Guests travelling are encouraged to download the Australian Government’s COVIDSafe tracing app. Guests should also ensure their details are updated via the My Bookings function at virginaustralia.com or with their travel agent prior to commencing travel.
The flights will be available for booking at virginaustralia.com, and more information regarding the new safety and hygiene measures are available on www.virginaustralia.com/healthandwellbeing
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