Article from BTNews 27 MARCH 2017
Virgin Australia for China
Expanding its international footprint into Greater China for the first time, Virgin Australia is launching flights between Melbourne and Hong Kong from 5 July with five return services a week using the Airbus A330-200.
The airline is also establishing an alliance with HNA Aviation, Hong Kong Airlines and HK Express which will enable passengers to connect through Hong Kong to 13 destinations in mainland China.
In the other direction, it will also allow guests from Hainan Airlines, Hong Kong Airlines, Capital Airlines and Tianjin Airlines to connect on to Virgin Australia’s expansive domestic and trans-Tasman network.
Virgin's A330-200 fleet features the airline’s award-winning Business Class suites, marketed as “The Business” and offering “restaurant-in –the-sky” dining, as well as 255 Economy seats in a 2+4+2 configuration.
Virgin Australia Group CEO John Borghetti said: “Virgin Australia’s entry into Hong Kong and Greater China is a key pillar of our international strategy, allowing us to tap into Australia’s fastest growing and most valuable inbound travel market. It is an exciting development.”
Velocity frequent flyer members can earn Velocity points and status credits on flights. Details of reciprocal frequent flyer benefits and lounge access are being announced later together with codeshare arrangements.
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Keith Wallis, Hong Kong
Hopefully they'll be more successful than the Virgin Atlantic service between HK and Sydney which was scrapped in 2014 due to higher costs