Branson launches V Australia with 1,000 £460 seats

Richard Branson has announced the new Australian long-haul airline V Australia will start flying between Sydney and Los Angeles from December 15th 2008.

V Australia is the new international arm of the Virgin Blue Group and chief executive Brett Godfrey told a press conference yesterday that Sydney will be the long-haul carrier's base.

To celebrate the launch of daily flights between Australia and the US, Branson said 1,000 seats will be sold at A$999 (£460), including taxes and charges.

"With Virgin Blue flying within Australia and to New Zealand and the South Pacific and Virgin Atlantic flying between Australia, Hong Kong and London, the setting up of V Australia flying to the United States is the obvious last piece of the puzzle," he commented.

Regular economy fares will be a competitive A$1,899 (£873) return and travellers will hope the new operation shakes up Pacific airline services.

Investment of up to A$44 million (£20.2 million) is planned for the V Australia Sydney facilities, with a flight training centre set up for the seven Boeing 777-300 on order.