Passenger records are set to soar this summer with Virgin Australia scheduled to operate up to 3,000 flights per week across its domestic and short-haul international network in December and January – the equivalent of nearly half a million seats each week.
(Image Source)
Virgin AustraliaPassenger records are set to soar this summer with Virgin Australia scheduled to operate up to 3,000 flights per week across its domestic and short-haul international network in December and January – the equivalent of nearly half a million seats each week.
Extra flights have been added to popular holiday destinations including the Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast, Cairns, Tasmania, the Whitsundays, Hamilton Island, and Byron Bay. Domestic capacity over the peak period (from 16 December 2024 to 12 January 2025) is 3% higher than the same period in 2023 and 5% higher than pre-COVID. The busiest days of travel are expected prior to Christmas on Friday 20 December and Sunday 22 December, and on Friday 27 December, as travellers make their way home from holidays.
(Image Source)
This follows two months of record-breaking passenger numbers for Virgin Australia, with close to 4 million guests carried across the network during October and November. Contributing to this record performance is the more than 130,000 Rex passengers who have been booked on Virgin Australia services free-of-charge since Rex suspended its jet operations in July. Of these passengers, approximately 16,000 are anticipated to fly in December and January.
While managing consistently high passenger loads, Virgin Australia has maintained an industry leading completion rate with 98.3% of scheduled flights in November completed.
Popular holiday destinations
Travellers are flocking to sunny hotspots this summer with popular destinations including the Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast, Cairns, Hobart, Broome, and Perth. Internationally, Bali, Fiji, and Queenstown are the most sought-after destinations in the network.
Strengthening operational resilience
Several measures have been put in place to support the Virgin Australia team to deliver a safe and reliable travel experience for guests flying across the network. These measures include:
- More team members hired in key operational airport roles, including recruitment and training of an additional 90 guest services and 175 pit crew team members this year.
- More team members hired in the Guest Assistance Team to support guests with accessibility requirements to travel safely through the airport. This is a dedicated team trained to facilitate and coordinate the movement of guests who require specific assistance through the airport terminal in a safe, effective, and compassionate manner.
- Changes to the heavy maintenance schedule to free up spare aircraft over the peak period. This ensures more aircraft are available to support recovery of guests in the event of unexpected disruption. Virgin Australia is also taking delivery of two former Rex 737-800s which will initially be used as spare aircraft during the peak period.
- New ground services equipment introduced including tugs, belt loaders, and passenger vans.
- The return of Virgin Australia’s popular Guest Ambassador Program which sees corporate team members lend a hand to their airport colleagues during peak periods including providing directional support to guests and managing queues. This gives more time back to airport team members to perform essential duties and get travellers on their way as quickly and efficiently as possible.
New Journey Tracker
In time for the busy holiday period, Virgin Australia will be the first Australian airline to introduce Journey Tracker app functionality – a real-time flight update feature powered by iOS live activities and Android custom notifications.
Journey Tracker offers passengers:
- Real-time updates on flight status, including gate changes and delays, directly on their lock screen.
- Quick access to boarding passes making it easier to drop bags, enter lounges, and board flights with a single tap.
- Seamless integration with the Virgin Australia app ensuring an effortless experience for guests on the day of travel.
Journey Tracker will be available from 12:00pm AEDT today on the domestic network and three hours before departure on the Virgin Australia app.
Festive on-board and lounge menus
A festive onboard dining experience is again on offer to Virgin Australia travellers with a curated holiday menu for Business Class travellers and complimentary festive chocolates for guests seated in Economy.
Menu highlights include hot roast turkey with cranberry sauce, roast vegetables, fruit mince pies, and other seasonal treats. These items will be available from 25 – 26 December for Business Class guests and for visitors in Virgin Australia lounges across the network.
Fast facts from 2024
- Top movies in the sky – Barbie, Wonka, and Meg 2.
- Most watched TV shows – The Big Bang Theory, and Bluey.
- Favourite snack – cheese and crackers.
- Top beverage – Coca-Cola.
Tips for travellers
- Arrive early – allow additional time to clear airport security and check-in bags.
- Check-in online – wherever possible, utilising online check-in helps to fast-track the airport experience and reduce congestion at check-in desks and kiosks in the departure terminal.
- Be aware of carry-on limits – to ensure there is space for everyone’s bags, be mindful carry-on baggage meets the weight requirements or check it in where possible. Virgin Australia’s end-to-end baggage tracking tool means guests receive push notifications throughout their travel journey giving customers peace of mind.
- Leave gifts unwrapped – place wrapped presents in checked baggage or wait to wrap them until after travel. Certain items may need to be unwrapped during security screening.
- Check the Virgin Australia app – the Virgin Australia app keeps travellers up to date on the status of their flight. Sometimes unforeseen changes to the schedule are required, particularly with increased storm activity over the summer months, so guests are encouraged to keep an eye on their flight.
Source: Virgin Austraila
Disclaimer: Press release
© Press Release 2025
Send us your press releases to news@globalloyalty.org
Press releases originate from external third-party providers. This website does not have responsibility or control over its content, which is presented as is, without any alterations. Neither this website nor its affiliates guarantee the accuracy of the views or opinions expressed in the press release.
The press release is intended solely for informational purposes and does not offer tax, legal, or investment advice, nor does it express any opinion regarding the suitability, value, or profitability of specific securities, portfolios, or investment strategies. Neither this website nor its affiliates are liable for any errors or inaccuracies in the content, nor for any actions taken based on it. By using the information provided in this article, you agree to do so at your own risk.
To the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, this website, its parent company, subsidiaries, affiliates, shareholders, directors, officers, employees, agents, advertisers, content providers, and licensors shall not be liable to you for any direct, indirect, consequential, special, incidental, punitive, or exemplary damages, including but not limited to lost profits, savings, and revenues, whether in negligence, tort, contract, or any other theory of liability, even if the possibility of such damages was known or foreseeable.
The images used in press releases and articles provided by 3rd party sources belong to the respective source provider and are used for illustrative purposes in accordance with the original press releases and publications.
Disclaimer: Content
While we strive to maintain accurate and up-to-date content, Global Loyalty Organisation Ltd. makes no representations or warranties of any kind, express or implied, about the correctness accuracy, completeness, adequacy, or reliability of the information or the results derived from its use, not that the content will meet your requirements or expectations. The content is provided “as is” and “as available”. You agree that your use of the content is at your own risk. Global Loyalty Organisation Ltd. disclaims all warranties related to the content, including implied warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, non-infringement, and title, and is not liable for a particular purpose, non-infringement, and title, and is not liable for any interruptions. Some jurisdictions do not allow the exclusion of certain warranties, so these jurisdictions may not apply to you. Global Loyalty Organisation Ltd. Reserves the right to modify, interrupt, or discontinue the content without notice and is not liable for doing so.
Global Loyalty Organisation Ltd. shall not be liable for any damages, including special, indirect, consequential, or incidental damages, or damages for lost profits, revenue, or use, arising out of or related to the content, whether in contract, negligence, tort, statute, equity, law, or otherwise, even if advised of such damages. Some jurisdictions do not allow limitations on liability for incidental or consequential damages, so this limitation may not apply to you. These disclaimers and limitations apply to Global Loyalty Organisation Ltd. and its parent, affiliates, related companies, contractors, sponsors, and their respective directors, officers, members, employees, agents, content providers, licensors, and advisors.
The content and its compilation, created by Global Loyalty Organisation Ltd, are the property of Global Loyalty Organisation Ltd. and cannot be reproduced without prior written permission.
