This Month
Virgin to pay 61,000 flyers refunds for overpricing
The airline mistakenly charged people too much when they tried to change their flight plans.
Sydney Airport takes $46m write-down on deferred hotel, transport hubs
It is postponing some projects as it overhauls its business strategy and prepares to deliver a new 20-year master plan.
Virgin board overhaul brings in Qatar executive, ex-Macquarie chairman
The airline has formally appointed Peter Warne – among others – as a director, two years after he was first announced, as it prepares to rejoin the ASX.
Inside Virgin Australia’s pitch to kick off the airline’s IPO
Investors said the maiden pitch was light on numbers – likely deliberately so – with financial statements and forecasts not expected until next month, at the earliest.
Virgin plans June listing as it restructures into a public company
The Bain Capital-controlled airline’s executives have begun weeks of meeting with prospective investors in a roadshow that is billed as a business update.
March
Virgin kicks off IPO process, hires investor relations team
Bain Capital is preparing the way for the airline to return to the ASX after five years, with the carrier’s management meeting prospective investors on Tuesday.
ACCC greenlights Virgin-Qatar deal, frequent flyer partners cut back
The competition watchdog has approved the tie-up, but questions remain over whether consumers have been dudded by the exclusivity clause.
Qantas and Virgin told to ‘use or lose’ their Sydney landing slots
The head of the company managing Australia’s biggest airport says the airlines are not using their allocated capacity at anywhere near the levels seen overseas.
Meet the frequent flyers breaking up with loyalty programs
Is elite status losing its shine? With Qantas’ flagship status credits promotion ending on Wednesday, more savvy travellers – particularly women – are turning their backs on loyalty.
Departing Virgin CEO Jayne Hrdlicka loses the Hawaii option
A new deal with Qantas is wiping Virgin’s frequent flyer deals to Hawaii. Noosa probably never looked so good to Hrdlicka.
What to do if you have a holiday booked to Queensland
Flights are back, but the roads are chaos. Here are your options for cancelling flights as the impact of ex-tropical Cyclone Alfred lingers.
Virgin Australia’s new CEO must navigate a narrow path to the ASX
Having locked in a bumper deal with Qatar Airways and landed on a successor to Jayne Hrdlicka, the airline has cleared the decks for another run at listing.
Questions for Virgin investors in Qatar deal
Readers’ letters on what the tie-up means for future shareholders, the ANZUS pact, Ukraine’s critical minerals, Donald Trump pausing military aid, sustainable investment, and Clive Palmer’s election ads
Virgin’s new boss flies in with strict instructions
Is “nothing silly” what Dave Emerson, the incoming boss of Australia’s No.2 airline, wants to hear? It doesn’t matter.
Australia’s economy grows; Trump awakens investors; Virgin’s new CEO
Read everything that’s happened in the news so far today.
With new CEO, Virgin clears big step to possible June float
Virgin’s appointment of Dave Emerson to replace Jayne Hrdlicka along with the final approval required for the Qatar Airways deal are final steps ahead of a public float.
AFL postponed, cruises diverted as cyclone bears down
An ultra-rare tropical cyclone is zeroing in on heavily populated regions of Queensland and NSW, with threats of destructive winds and major flooding.
February
Who is known as The Oracle of Omaha? Take our weekly news quiz
Have you been paying attention this week? Test your knowledge across politics, business and world news.
Qatar-Virgin takeoff is good news. But it is still an airline duopoly
It’s time to plan for the only long-term hope for new entries and greater competition – the opening of Sydney’s second airport.
Labor still lacks real aviation competition policy
The proposal to turn nationalised Rex into TWU Airlines is another sign that Labor remains all too open to political interventions in the aviation sector to suit vested interests.