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Virgin Australia has been flying between Cairns and Tokyo, Japan since June 2023. However, the airline has recently announced that it will end this route in February 2025 due to weak demand and lower-than-expected visitation from Japan, which has rendered the route commercially unsustainable. Virgin Australia has cited the slow recovery of inbound visitors from Japan, which remains up to 35% below pre-COVID levels, as a key factor in its decision. Despite this, Virgin Australia customers will still be able to travel between Australia and Japan through the airline's partnership with All Nippon Airways (ANA), which offers up to 17 flights a week between the two countries.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Virgin Australia flights to Japan | Cairns-Tokyo Haneda |
| First flight | June 2023 |
| Last flight | 24 February 2025 |
| Reason for discontinuation | Lower-than-expected visitation from Japan |
| Number of impacted customers | ~2,000 |
| Future plans | Up to 17 flights a week between Australia and Japan on partner All Nippon Airways |
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What You'll Learn
Virgin Australia's Cairns-Tokyo route
Virgin Australia announced its first-ever Cairns-Tokyo flights in 2022, with flights commencing on 28 June 2023. The airline celebrated the announcement with a 'Hello Tokyo' sale, offering return fares from as low as $699 for Economy Lite.
The new route was launched in partnership with Cairns Airport and the Queensland Government through its Attracting Aviation Investment Fund. Virgin Australia also strengthened its existing strategic partnership with All Nippon Airways (ANA), Japan's largest airline, to increase value and choice for customers. The partnership provided greater codeshare flight access between the two countries and reciprocal benefits for members of their frequent flyer programmes, Velocity and ANA Mileage Club.
The Cairns-Tokyo route was highly anticipated, with Virgin Australia expecting a positive impact on the state's economy through increased international visitors to Cairns and greater access to the Japanese market for trade and tourism.
However, in July 2024, Virgin Australia announced that it would be ending the Cairns-Tokyo flights, with the final departure scheduled for 24 February 2025. The airline cited lower-than-expected visitation from Japan as the key factor in its decision, stating that the route was "'no longer commercially viable'. The decision to end the route was met with disappointment by customers, particularly those who were Velocity Frequent Flyer members.
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Virgin Australia's partnership with All Nippon Airways
Virgin Australia has announced an expanded partnership with All Nippon Airways (ANA), Japan's largest airline, to strengthen connectivity between Australia and Japan. The partnership will increase codeshare cooperation and provide member loyalty benefits and seamless travel across both carriers' networks. This strategic partnership is expected to boost trade and tourism between the two countries and create greater value and choice for customers of both airlines.
With this partnership, Velocity Frequent Flyer members can earn points and status credits when travelling on ANA-operated flights across more than 130 destinations worldwide, including Japan, Asia, North America, and Europe. Silver, Gold, and Platinum members travelling on an ANA-operated flight with a Virgin Australia flight number will also earn bonus points on miles flown, with higher membership tiers earning higher bonuses. Additionally, Velocity Gold and Platinum members travelling on select ANA-operated flights will receive benefits such as priority check-in, priority baggage, and additional checked baggage allowance.
The partnership will also provide greater codeshare flight access between Australia and Japan and reciprocal benefits on the airlines' frequent flyer programmes, Velocity and ANA Mileage Club. Virgin Australia guests will have access to 12 domestic destinations in Japan, including Sapporo, Fukuoka, Hiroshima, Osaka-Itami, Kochi, Osaka-Kansai, Kumamoto, Nagoya, and Nagasaki.
To celebrate the partnership, Velocity members were offered a 20% bonus on points earned on eligible ANA-operated flights between Sydney and Tokyo if activated by 1 August 2023 and booked and travelled between 18 July and 31 December.
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Virgin Australia's Haneda slot
Virgin Australia Holdings Ltd was awarded a slot to operate flights at Tokyo's Haneda Airport in 2019. The slot was one of two available to Australian carriers for Tokyo Haneda Airport, with the other going to Qantas Airways. The decision was made by Australia's International Air Services Commission (IASC) ahead of the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games.
Virgin Australia had applied for just one slot, while Qantas had applied for both. The IASC's draft decision cited competition concerns if Qantas were to be awarded both slots. Haneda Airport is located closer to central Tokyo than Narita Airport and has a limited number of slots available.
Virgin Australia's allocation was intended to operate a daily service between Brisbane and Haneda, with the airline planning to run a new route from Brisbane ahead of the 2020 Olympic Games. The introduction of Virgin Australia's service to Japan was expected to bring a new source of competition, boosting tourism and delivering benefits for travellers.
In 2022, Virgin Australia announced its first-ever Cairns-to-Japan flights in partnership with All Nippon Airways (ANA), the largest airline in Japan. This partnership strengthened the existing strategic alliance between the two airlines, enhancing codeshare flight access and reciprocal benefits for their frequent flyer programmes.
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Virgin Australia's Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft
Virgin Australia has increased its fleet of Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft with six more scheduled for delivery in the second half of 2024. This will bring the total number of MAX 8s to 14, with 39 new-generation aircraft planned overall. The airline's first Boeing 737 MAX 8 jet officially joined the fleet in 2023 and serves domestic and international flights, including the Cairns-Haneda route. The new aircraft offer USB power at every seat, and larger overhead lockers that provide up to 50% more space than the current Boeing 737s. The introduction of the Boeing 737 MAX 8 is part of Virgin Australia's strategy to maintain one of the youngest commercial fleets in the country, with an average age of 11.7 years. The airline has also committed to a $110 million interior refresh and product upgrade across its existing 737s, which will include the installation of in-seat power for all classes, new seats for Business Class, and new or refreshed seats for Economy, with a design consistent with the new Boeing MAX 8 aircraft.
The new Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft also support Virgin Australia's sustainability goals. The airline has reported that the new MAX 8s will reduce emissions by at least 15% per flight compared to older generation 737s, supporting its ambition to reduce carbon emissions intensity by 22% by 2030 and achieve net-zero emissions by 2050.
In addition to the environmental benefits, the Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft provide improved fuel efficiency, enabling significant growth for the airline. The increased range of the MAX 8s has allowed Virgin Australia to expand its international routes, including the inaugural flight to Haneda, strengthening its partnership with All Nippon Airways (ANA), Japan's largest airline. This partnership will enhance flight access between Australia and Japan, creating greater value and choice for customers of both airlines.
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Virgin Australia's Cairns-Tokyo services refunds
Virgin Australia announced the launch of its inaugural Cairns-Tokyo, Haneda services in June 2023. However, the airline decided to withdraw from this route from 24 February 2025 due to various factors, including the slow recovery of inbound visitors from Japan post-COVID, which impacted the demand for these services. The recovery of inbound visitors from Japan was significantly below forecast due to the sustained weakness of the Japanese yen, which depreciated by approximately 40% against the Australian dollar since the end of COVID travel restrictions. This depreciation significantly increased the cost for Japanese travellers wishing to visit Australia.
As a result of ceasing operations on this route, Virgin Australia offered refunds to impacted customers. Approximately 2,000 customers with bookings after 24 February 2025 were contacted by email to arrange refunds. Customers who booked through a travel agency or third-party booking website were instructed to contact their providers directly for refunds and alternative travel arrangements.
Virgin Australia's Guest Compensation Policy provides further details on refunds and alternative arrangements for impacted customers. The airline also apologised to affected customers, emphasising that withdrawing from Cairns-Tokyo services was a difficult but necessary decision due to the commercially unsustainable nature of the route.
Despite ending its daily Cairns-Tokyo services, Virgin Australia remains committed to serving the Australia-Japan market. The airline will continue its strategic partnership with All Nippon Airways (ANA), Japan's largest airline, to provide extensive connectivity between the two countries. Through this partnership, Virgin Australia customers and Velocity Frequent Flyer members can access up to 17 weekly services between Australia and Japan. Japanese travellers can also access popular Australian destinations, including Cairns and Far North Queensland, through ANA's network.
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Frequently asked questions
Virgin Australia has flown to Japan in the past. However, the airline will end its Cairns-Tokyo route in February 2025 due to weak demand.
Virgin Australia has stated that the route is no longer commercially viable due to lower-than-expected visitation from Japan. The airline has cited the slow recovery of inbound visitors from Japan, which remains up to 35% below pre-COVID levels, as a key factor in its decision.
Virgin Australia launched its Cairns-Tokyo, Haneda services in June 2023. The final departure will take place on February 24, 2025.
Yes, Virgin Australia has a strategic partnership with All Nippon Airways (ANA), Japan's largest airline. Through this partnership, customers can book flights to Japan via the Virgin Australia website, with access to up to 17 flights a week between Australia and Japan.
