Virgin Australia expands partnership with Singapore Airlines, resumes codeshare flights

Image Credit: Virgin Australia

Longstanding alliance partners, Virgin Australia and Singapore Airlines, have today resumed the sale of Virgin Australia codeshare flights to a host of destinations on Singapore Airlines’ global network.

Effective immediately, customers are now able to book directly on virginaustralia.com for seamless travel between Australia, Asia, Africa, Europe, and beyond.

The move is the next step in returning the carrier’s partnership to pre-pandemic operations, following the resumption of redemption bookings and mileage/Points conversion for KrisFlyer and Velocity members earlier this year. While miles and Points earn has remained unchanged throughout the pandemic, today’s announcement unlocks the full rewards and benefits of the partnership for customers as demand for international travel continues to improve.

Since forming a strategic partnership in 2011, Virgin Australia and Singapore Airlines continued to strengthen their offering for travellers prior to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, providing one of the world’s most beneficial frequent flyer program tie-ups. Through the partnership, customers are now able to access a multitude of international and domestic destinations across both airlines’ networks, creating a world of seamless travel opportunities.

Virgin Australia Group Chief Strategy and Transformation Officer, Mr Alistair Hartley, said he was thrilled to see the partnership return to pre-pandemic operations. “Singapore Airlines has been a valued partner of Virgin Australia for well over a decade and we are excited to resume the sale of codeshare flights, creating a more seamless booking experience for our customers.

“Customers are now able to search and book flights to a host of destinations on Singapore Airlines’ global network directly via virginaustralia.com, including to popular tourist destinations across Asia and beyond.

“Expanding our partnership with Singapore Airlines means we are able to offer our loyal customers more choice and value when travelling internationally, creating more ways to see the world, through wonderful travel experiences on Singapore Airlines,” he said.

Singapore Airlines Senior Vice President Marketing Planning, Ms JoAnn Tan, said: “Virgin Australia has been a longstanding partner of Singapore Airlines for over a decade, helping to fly our mutual customers to key destinations in Australia and around the world.

”The return of the VA code on SIA flights provides even more opportunities for Australians to seamlessly explore the world, no matter where they are based. As more countries across Asia remove travel restrictions, it also opens up Australia to travellers from these regions.”

Virgin Australia will codeshare on 42 destinations covering 23 countries on the Singapore Airlines network, including Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam, Seoul in South Korea, Amsterdam, Copenhagen, and Paris in Europe, London in the United Kingdom, and Jakarta in Indonesia, as well as Singapore Airlines’ home base of Singapore. Singapore Airlines continues to offer codeshare flights on 64 routes covering 31 destinations on Virgin Australia’s domestic and international network, including the addition of Queenstown in New Zealand.

The two carriers will continue to work closely to expand codeshare flights to more destinations across the Singapore Airlines’ network in the coming weeks, subject to regulatory approval.

Coinciding with today’s announcement, arrival and departure boards across the world will once again feature the Virgin Australia ‘VA’ airline code on Singapore Airlines’ flights.

Virgin Australia and Singapore Airlines established their alliance partnership in 2011, with the agreement extended for a further five years in 2022.

About Singapore Airlines

The SIA Group’s history dates back to 1947 with the maiden flight of Malayan Airways Limited. The airline was later renamed Malaysian Airways Limited and then Malaysia-Singapore Airlines (MSA). In 1972, MSA split into Singapore Airlines (SIA) and Malaysian Airline System.

Since 1967, Singapore Airlines (SIA) has proudly connected Australia to the world through its award-winning hub, Singapore Changi Airport.
SIA’s longstanding association and commitment to the Australian market was never more evident than during the COVID-19 pandemic. Through the continuation of passenger and cargo services, the Airline ensured essential travel could still be undertaken and that key trade channels remained easily accessible to Australian producers and essential freight could be imported.

Today, Singapore Airlines and its Low Cost subsidiary Scoot operate more than 140 weekly flights from eight cities across Australia connecting to the global SIA and Scoot network of 100 destinations in 36 countries. Providing customers with travel options that are underpinned by the three main pillars of its brand promise: Service Excellence, Product Leadership and Network Connectivity.

For more information, please visit www.singaporeair.com.

About Virgin Australia

Founded in the Year 2000 by Sir Richard Branson, Virgin Australia is now one of the largest Australian airlines operating an extensive domestic network as well as short-haul international services, charter and cargo operations, and the award-winning loyalty program, Velocity Frequent Flyer. The Group employs more than 7,000 people and has been a competitor in the Australian aviation landscape for 22 years.   

Virgin Australia boasts more than 10.9 million Velocity members who can use their Points to redeem flights to over 500 destinations around the world through Virgin Australia and the airline’s extensive list of international partner carriers.

Virgin Australia is incredibly focused on providing great travel experiences, optionality to fly the way you want to, and value through competitive airfare pricing. Three seating choices are offered when flying Virgin Australia international and domestic services; Business Class, Economy X (extra leg room Economy) and Economy.  

Since November 2020, Virgin Australia has announced it will increase its Boeing 737 fleet by more than 60 per cent, from 58 to 92 aircraft, including the addition of more fuel-efficient Boeing 737 MAX 8 and 10 aircraft in 2023.  

Virgin Australia has won several awards over the years including Best Cabin Crew and top 10 airline finalist in the 2022 AirlineRatings.com Excellence Awards. At the same awards in 2019, Virgin Australia again won Best Cabin Crew as well as Best Economy Class cabin. 2019 also saw Virgin Australia win Best Domestic Airline at the Australian Federation of Travel Agents National Travel Industry Awards and Velocity Frequent Flyer scooped a wealth of prestigious gongs at the Freddie Awards, including Best Program of the Year, Best Customer Service and Best Redemption Ability for the Asia/Middle East and Oceania Airline category. 

MORE INFORMATION

Destinations able to be booked on the Singapore Airlines’ global network via virginaustralia.com, from today. The destinations will expand over the coming weeks, subject to regulatory approval.

Country/TerritoryAirport CodeAirport
The United KingdomLHRLondon-Heathrow
MANManchester Ringway
SingaporeSINSingapore
The NetherlandsAMSAmsterdam
FranceCDGParis-De Gaulle
GermanyFRAFrankfurt
MUCMunich
DenmarkCPHCopenhagen
South KoreaICNSeoul
MalaysiaKULKuala Lumpur
PENPenang
ItalyFCORome
 MXPMilan-Malpensa
SwitzerlandZRHZurich
Mainland ChinaPVGShanghai
IndonesiaCGKJakarta
Hong Kong SARHKGHong Kong
VietnamHANHanoi
DADDa Nang
SGNHo Chi Minh City
Sri LankaCMBColombo

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