Virgin Australia's domestic flight cancellations starting March 28

Virgin Australia will suspend the majority of its domestic flights from midnight Friday 27 March through to 14 June 2020, in response to state border closures, business lockdowns and the Federal Government’s advice against air travel unless absolutely necessary.

As previously reported by Executive Traveller, Virgin will also cease all international flying – including the usually-busy New Zealand and Los Angeles corridors – between March 30 and June 14.

Virgin Australia domestic flight cancellations

While the airline promises it will continue flying to 17 destinations "in order to transport essential services, critical freight and logistics", all flights to the following 19 destinations will be suspended as of Saturday 28 March:

• Albury
• Alice Springs
• Ayers Rock (Uluru)
• Ballina Byron
• Coffs Harbour
• Cloncurry
• Darwin
• Emerald
• Harvey Bay
• Hamilton Island
• Hobart
• Mount Isa
• Launceston
• Mildura
• Sunshine Coast (Maroochydore)
• Newcastle
• Whitsunday Coast (Proserpine)
• Port Macquarie*
• Tamworth

(For Port Macquarie, Virgin Australia says it will continue to codeshare on Brisbane-Port Macquarie as well as routes between Brisbane and Bundaberg, and Gladstone operated by Alliance Airlines.)

What to do if your Virgin Australia flight is cancelled

Travellers booked on Virgin Australia or Tigerair Australia with flights between now and 31 March 2020 "are being provided flexibility to change their flight to a Virgin Australia service departing on or before 27 March with change fees and fare difference waived," the airline says. "This can be done via our Guest Contact Centres or at the airport, subject to availability."

Where possible, use the Manage Booking tool on Virgin Australia’s website: particularly if your booking is subject to a ‘schedule change’, which you may be able to accept online to secure new flights.

If you do need to call Virgin Australia regarding travel reservations, the number is 13 67 89 (or +61 7 3295 2296 if dialling from overseas).

Bookings through to 30 June 2020 qualify for a travel credit which can be used against a future Virgin Australia flight – at this point, the airline is not offering cash refunds on the fare.

Free Velocity status for a year

Silver, Gold and Platinum members of Virgin Australia's Velocity Frequent Flyer program will all receive an extra year at their current status level.

High flyers will also receive an additional free serve of between 60 and 210 status credits, which could see some Velocity members move up a tier – from Silver to Gold, or Gold to Platinum – if they were already close to doing so.

Read more: Virgin Australia extends all Velocity memberships by one year

David Flynn

David Flynn is the Editor-in-Chief of Executive Traveller and a bit of a travel tragic with a weakness for good coffee, shopping and lychee martinis.