Virgin aware of risks to young, inexperienced crew before host was allegedly raped in Fiji

Shocking safety incidents of Virgin Australia crew members have been uncovered, as staff hold concerns the airline’s cost-cutting measures are putting lives at risk.

EXCLUSIVE

Virgin Australia was aware of safety risks to younger and inexperienced staff travelling overseas before a 21-year-old airline host was allegedly raped by a fake taxi driver in Fiji on New Year’s Day.

Crew members also held concerns around the safety and suitability of accommodation as well as unsafe working expectations and demands placed on recruits just starting their careers.

Shocking safety incidents uncovered by this masthead include crew members claiming to have their drinks spiked in Bali and a crew member choked outside a hotel in Perth.

Virgin Australia said the airline prioritised crew safety and said all incidents were promptly reviewed.

Sources said working conditions at Virgin had deteriorated since the airline was bought by private investment firm Bain Capital and had sought to slash operating costs after going into voluntary administration during the pandemic.

The brutal cost cutting including sacking of 3000 experienced staff members in 2020 as the airline, carrying $5bn in debt before Covid hit, sought to repair its finances under new chief executive officer Jayne Hrdlicka.

Jayne Hrdlicka, CEO of Virgin Australia. Picture: Getty Images for Virgin Australia

When the airline sought to replenish its workforce – of $45,526 for new recruits – was too low for any potential employee with a family to support or a mortgage to pay.

Instead the applicants were in their late teens or early twenties and often still living at home.

The low pay led to high turnover and a churn of new young workers.

Until 2008 international crew members had to be at least 21-years-old and the average age of a crew member undergoing training was 25.

Flight Attendants Association of Australia industrial relations manager Steven Reed said cabin crew work involved long hard hours and an awareness of safety concerns.

“What we do notice is that the lack of life skills that comes with recruiting 18-year-olds that exist, particularly when you send them overseas to hotels and they may never have been out Australia before,” he said.

“They don’t have those necessary life skills to be wary of certain things.”

It is understood Virgin Australia has launched an internal investigation after the 21-year-old was allegedly raped by farmer Ilaisa Tanoa Degei, 24, at about 1am on January 1 after clubbing at Bar One, in Nadi, with colleagues. Mr Degei has been charged with one count of sexual assault and one count of rape.

Virgin Australia aircraft on the tarmac at Sydney Domestic Airport. Picture: NewsWire/Bianca De Marchi

It is alleged Degei posed as the driver of an unregistered pirate taxi, known locally as the Pari, and agreed to give the 21-year-old a ride back to the Tanoa International Hotel.

Virgin crew have expressed safety concerns in the aftermath of the alleged rape and the suitability of the Tanoa International Hotel, which was approved by the Flight Attendant’s Association of Australia.

Issues cited with the hotel include the location and the lack of nearby amenities.

The hotel, which has a longstanding contractual relationship with Virgin, does employ guards and has security gates but is understood to have only started using them after the alleged rape.

Qantas and Jetstar do not put their staff up at the Tanoa International Hotel.

Tonoa International Hotel in Fiji, where the cabin crew member who was allegedly raped was staying.

Transport Workers Union national secretary Michael Kaine said the union was in ongoing discussions with Virgin regarding the circumstances of the alleged rape in Fiji.

“While investigations into the incident are continuing, the safety of Virgin crews must remain the number one priority going forward,” he said.

“Virgin and owners Bain Capital must consult closely with cabin crew on areas of concern and make all necessary steps to prevent serious incidents like this in the future.”

In other incidents, crew members claimed to have had their drinks spiked while staying at the Holiday Inn Resort Baruna in the popular Balinese tourist district of Kuta.

Another crew member was choked in the vicinity of her accommodation at the Mercure Hotel in Perth’s CBD, which is located across from Perth’s Magistrate’s Court, where alleged perpetrators come and go daily.

Another crew member was choked in the vicinity of her accommodation at the Mercure Hotel in Perth’s CBD. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Tony McDonough

The FAAA knocked back the Perth hotel when appraising the accommodation for Qantas staff, finding it did not meet the standards set out in the airline’s EBA.

A Virgin Australia spokesperson said the airline took a proactive approach to safety to ensure the wellbeing of crew on international and domestic flights.

“Safety remains our highest priority and we take a thorough and proactive approach to ensure the welfare of our crew when travelling for work, both domestically and internationally,” said the spokesperson.

“All reported safety incidents are promptly reviewed, and we do not hesitate to implement necessary changes and controls to ensure our team remain safe.”

Virgin Australia provides safety training to cabin and flight crew members that focuses on personal security for domestic and international flights.

The airline saw a reduction in the headline attrition rates and increased the number of frontline staff in 2024 after hiring from Bonza and Rex, which do not operate international flights.

The 2024 enterprise bargaining agreement improved working conditions and pay and new recruits are now paid $55,974 and included other benefits such as daily overtime.