Virgin Australia has announced it will deploy its A330s on international services for the first time. Effective 09 June 2017, VA will operate A330s thrice weekly between Perth and Abu Dhabi in partnership with Etihad’s existing daily 787-9 services on this route.

There will also be further changes to Virgin Australia’s international network. The carrier’s thrice weekly 777 services between Sydney and Abu Dhabi will be terminated. These will be replaced with Etihad operated flights thus maintaining a double daily service between Sydney and Abu Dhabi with EY 777-300ERs and A380s.

Effective 04 April 2017, the carrier will resume services between Melbourne and Los Angeles which were suspended on 26 October 2014. VA will operate five times weekly on this route in addition to daily flights from Sydney  and Brisbane to LAX. All flights will  be operated to LAX will be with 777-300ER aircaft.

Virgin Australia’s A330-200 and 777-300ER are all reconfigured with the international standard “The Business” cabin.

A330 services to Hong Kong and China are expected to start in 2017.