Virgin Australia to launch Brisbane-Tokyo service

Virgin Australia will add Japan to its international cargo network in March with the launch of daily services between Brisbane and Tokyo-Haneda.

Commencing on March 29, cargo space on the Add Registration Form new route will be marketed by Virgin Atlantic Cargo under its longstanding international long-haul sales and marketing agreement with Virgin Australia. The daily Airbus A330 flight will offer between 15-20 tonnes of cargo capacity.

With the launch of the new Brisbane-Tokyo route, Virgin Australia will be suspending its existing Hong Kong-Melbourne service with effect from February 11 due to softening passenger demand but will continue to closely monitor the route and look to re-enter the market in the future if it is financially viable to do so.

Dominic Kennedy, managing director of Virgin Atlantic Cargo, said: “We expect this new direct route to open up significant opportunities for both imports and exports when it commences in March.

“We also wish to acknowledge the strong support we have enjoyed from the cargo industry for Virgin Australia’s Melbourne-Hong Kong services. Although this route will be stopping in February, we will continue to offer capacity on Virgin Australia’s daily Sydney-Hong Kong flights and provide a direct trucking service between Melbourne and Sydney to ensure customers retain access to the important Hong Kong cargo market.”

Virgin Atlantic Cargo also markets cargo capacity on Virgin Australia’s direct services connecting Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane with Los Angeles, where they also link directly into Virgin Atlantic’s international network.