Emirates and V Australia to start code share agreement
Dubai-based airline, Emirates, and Virgin Blue Group’s new international airline, V Australia, announced a code share partnership on the trans-Tasman route, effective October 25, 2009. The code share agreement – Emirates’ first with an Australian carrier – signals yet another initiative in the airline’s commitment to Australia. It also confirms Emirates as V Australia’s first code share partner.
The new agreement will provide V Australia guests seamless connections when travelling between New Zealand and the USA. Passengers can travel on the Trans-Tasman sector using Emirates’ award-winning service and connect conveniently to/from V Australia’s international service between Sydney and Los Angeles.
Emirates flights, EK419 arriving from Christchurch into Sydney at 6.20pm or EK 413 arriving from Auckland at 8.05pm connect seamlessly with V Australia’s Los Angeles service, VA1, at 9.05pm. The return flights to New Zealand are equally convenient. Passengers touch down in Sydney at 6.05am on VA2 from Los Angeles, briefly stretch their legs before connecting on EK412 at 8.50am to Auckland or EK418 at 10.15am to Christchurch.
Travellers are able to enjoy a stopover in Sydney in either direction before continuing on their journey with Emirates or V Australia. V Australia will market the seats allocated to it under the code share agreement. The code share flights will be identified with the Emirates ‘EK’ code as well as with V Australia’s ‘VA’ code.
Richard Jewsbury, Emirates’ Senior Vice President, Commercial Operations Far East and Australasia noted: “Emirates is prudent when it comes to choosing code share partners and our decision to join hands with V Australia is further demonstration of our commitment to the Australian aviation industry. We are pleased to finalise this agreement ahead of the peak summer travelling season, and expect the services to be extremely popular with leisure and business travellers seeking quick onward connections to/from V Australia’s international Sydney operations.”
Guests travelling in V Australia’s International Business cabin transfer to Emirates’ exceptional and parallel product featured on the wide-bodied Boeing 777 and Airbus A380 aircraft comprising ergonomically designed seats, award-winning entertainment spanning over 600 channels, a wide selection of gourmet meals prepared by world-renowned chefs with matching wines, and a mood-lighting ambience to reduce jet lag. Business class passengers on Emirates’ A380 can enjoy the onboard lounge complete with bar service.
Airlines, Asia, Australia, New Zealand etc., Emirates, New Routes, V Australia, Virgin Blue
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