Virgin Australia launches sale on the eve of Tasmanian border reopening next week

Just days away from Tasmania opening its borders to most other Australian states and territories, another airline has launched a sale to try and lure travellers. Check out the fares and routes on offer.

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ON THE eve of Tasmanian borders reopening to most other Australian states and territories, Virgin Australia has launched a new sale to try and lure travellers to return to the skies.

Following several months of closures to mitigate the risk of coronavirus entering the state, Tasmania is set to open its borders to Queensland, Western Australia, South Australia, Northern Territory and the ACT from Monday.

Borders could open to NSW as soon as one week later, while Victoria which has been ravaged by COVID-19 in recent months, is still off limits.

Virgin has rolled out a “Cheers to 20 years” sale to celebrate two decades of the airline, which started on Thursday and runs until Tuesday.

The sale has fares from just $69, including those with booking dates into 2021 and many fares to and from Melbourne in anticipation of that state’s borders opening.

Tasmanian travellers can snap up flights from Hobart-Sydney from $119, Hobart-Melbourne from $99, Launceston-Melbourne from $79 and Hobart-Brisbane from $139.

Fares are for travel on selected dates and destinations between November 25 and March 31, with some sale fares available around the Christmas holiday period.

People queuing to check in at Hobart Airport. Picture: LUKE BOWDEN

Due to the uncertainty created by coronavirus, the airline is waiving applicable change fees and giving travellers unlimited booking changes for reservations with travel between now and January 31.

A Virgin Australia spokesman said the aviation and tourism industries relied on a connected nation and the airline hoped borders continue to safely reopen and more Australians return to the skies.

“With borders slowly reopening and more Australians excited to explore their own backyard, we’re making it easy for them to get to wherever they need to go, with our 20th birthday sale fares from just $69 including baggage and seat selection,’’ the spokesman said.

Jetstar flight arrives at Hobart from Melbourne in July. Picture Chris Kidd

Earlier this month, Jetstar launched $89 maiden flights between Hobart and the Gold Coast, with other flights from Tasmania’s capital to Brisbane and Adelaide on select dates for less than $110 one way.

Flights between Hobart and Adelaide were selling for as little as $75 while travellers could fly from Hobart-Brisbane for $109 on selected dates.

Last month, an airline announced its plans to run direct services between Hobart and Canberra.

Link Airways said it would run four weekly return services — on Sunday, Monday, Thursday and Friday — between the destinations, with plans to expand to 11 weekly flights next year.

It will be the first time a direct flight to the nation’s capital has been offered to Tasmanians since 2013.

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