Virgin Blue extends Adelaide - Broome flights

Virgin Blue has announced it will maintain its weekly Adelaide-Broome service all year round, after steady support for the existing flight and solid forward bookings.

The airline launched the route 11 weeks ago with the original schedule offering seats for sale until 27 September 2003. From today, Virgin Blue will offer its direct Adelaide-Broome flights for sale into the New Year.

The airline said that the extension is the result of the large number of Virgin Blue Guests requesting the ability to forward plan a visit to Broome for their Christmas and New Year holidays.

Head of Commercial and Strategy, David Huttner said, "The support from travellers so far has given us the confidence to commit to continuing the flights past September.

He continued, "What we've found is that when you offer the right price, people will come all year round. In tropical north Queensland, we have seen a shift to consistently strong year round domestic business due to Virgin  Blue's affordable pricing in what was, until now, the off-season. We see no reason why we can't do the same to Broome."

David Huttner added, "If the large number of connecting flights booked are anything to go by, both visitors and Broome residents have valued the convenient connections from Adelaide to the East Coast, especially after being isolated by high fares until now."