VIRGIN BLUE WELCOMES FINAL ACCC APPROVAL FOR ETIHAD ALLIANCE

3 FEBRUARY 2011: Virgin Blue Group of Airlines today welcomed the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission’s (ACCC) decision to provide final approval for its alliance with Etihad Airways.

Virgin Blue Group of Airlines Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director John Borghetti said the decision was excellent news for Australian travellers and for the tourism industry.

“We are very pleased to receive final ACCC approval for our exciting new partnership with Etihad, which will see us establishing an international hub in Abu Dhabi. This will allow us to offer corporate and leisure travellers a very attractive one-stop service to more than 14 destinations in Europe, as well as the United Kingdom, the Middle East and Africa”, Mr Borghetti said.

“The alliance is a key part of our strategy of building an international network with global coverage that compliments our core domestic business. It will also provide guests with more opportunities to earn frequent flyer points and have more extensive lounge access.

V Australia will commence direct services to Abu Dhabi on 24 February 2011. Virgin Blue Group’s new ambassador and Australia’s most successful Olympian Ian Thorpe will be flying to Abu Dhabi on the airline’s first ever Sydney-Abu Dhabi flight, where he will continue training for the 2012 Olympic trials.

Virgin Blue Group’s partnership with Etihad Airways delivers a combined global network of more than 100 destinations worldwide.
ENDS