This was published 4 years ago
Please Explain podcast: What will Virgin Australia look like under Hrdlicka and Bain Capital?
By Tory Maguire
Virgin Australia's chief executive Paul Scurrah will depart the company after falling out with the airline's new private equity owner Bain Capital over its plan to take the carrier down-market.
He will be replaced by former Jetstar CEO Jayne Hrdlicka. The change in leadership has enraged unions representing Virgin's workforce which supported Mr. Scurrah's vision to keep the airline a full-service carrier to compete with Qantas.
The unions are also apprehensive about Hrdlicka's budget airline background.
In June, Bain said it supported Mr. Scurrah's vision but the private equity firm has reverted to its earlier plan to make Virgin a 'hybrid' carrier, positioned between Qantas and Jetstar.
In this episode, national editor Tory Maguire is joined by business reporter Patrick Hatch to discuss Bain's 'hybrid' vision for Virgin and the appointment of Jayne Hrdlicka as CEO.
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