Virgin Australia will reopen its Canberra Airport lounge in early 2021, following an assessment of the capital city’s position within the rebuilt VA2 network.
However, the destiny of Virgin’s separate invitation-only The Club lounges stays doubtful – significantly because the airline adopts a mid-market strategy with a decreased deal with corporate travelers, quite than emulating the full-service strategy of rival Qantas.
“We’re happy to verify our Canberra Lounge will reopen within the New Yr,” a Virgin Australia spokesperson tells.
“Our Club lounges remain under evaluation till we’re in a position to reassess travel demand from the corporate sector within the new yr.”
Talking eventually week’s CAPA Stay online conference, Virgin Australia CEO Jayne Hrdlicka allowed that the airline “may have seven lounges, within the largest ports.”
Virgin had previously committed to retaining lounges in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth Terminal 1, and on the Gold Coast, however, accepts that the size of its network falls properly wanting the competitors.
“Qantas may have a lot larger lounge community that reaches into small regional airports,” Hrdlicka acknowledges.
However, she justifies that “our most valued friends have instructed us what they need, and the place they need it, and we’re doing precisely that.”
The return of Virgin Australia’s lounge network
Virgin Australia’s Brisbane’s lounge was the first to return, reopening its doors in November, adopted by Sydney and Melbourne from December 15.
In actual fact, Melbourne travelers are at present handled to The Club, which has quickly changed the airline’s public lounge whereas maintenance works happen.
Lounges in Adelaide, Perth, and the Gold Coast – plus Canberra, of course – will then reopen in early 2021.
The airline has previously suggested that its lounges in Alice Springs, Cairns, Darwin, Mackay, Perth T2, and Wellington are not going to return.
