VIRGIN BLUE LAUNCHES NEW SERVICE TO MT ISA LOW FARE CARRIER CONFIRMS COMMITMENT TO REGIONAL QLD

Virgin Blue will tonight launch its inaugural 737 Next Generation jet service between Brisbane and Mt Isa, following the collapse of Ansett which was the only carrier previously servicing the route.

The move reinforces the airline's commitment to supporting regional Queensland and is the first new route to be launched by Virgin Blue since the Ansett crisis.

The airline will initially operate five nightly services per week between Brisbane and Mt. Isa with more daylight services planned as further aircraft become available.

The low fare carrier is maintaining its promise to provide low fares, offering a special launch fare of $189 one way (or $5 more by phone). Fully Flexible fares will be available at just $389 one way (or $5 more by phone).

The $189* one way launch special is available for travel on all Brisbane-Mt Isa flights between Wednesday September 19 and Wednesday September 26.

Chief Executive Officer, Brett Godfrey, said "Mt Isa was the obvious choice considering Ansett was the only carrier servicing the Brisbane-Mt Isa route and its collapse had left the community with no service to the state capital at all. It's also a regional Queensland route which fits in with our goal of opening up increased services within our home state."

INITIAL FLIGHT SCHEDULE

FROM: 18 September 2001

BRISBANE-MT ISA

FLIGHT N0. DEP ARR MON TUE WED THU FRI SAT

SUN

DJ 997 22.45 pm 01.25 am * * * *

*

MT ISA-BRISBANE

FLIGHT N0. DEP ARR MON TUE WED THU FRI SAT

SUN

DJ 950 02.15 am 04.30 am * * * *

*

All times local

* Prices don't include Mt Isa Airport charges which are $8.50 per person each way.

Virgin Blue operates the most modern, technologically advanced aircraft in Australia today, with an average age of less than 5 years, compared with Ansett's average fleet age of 11.7 years and Qantas with an average fleet age of 10.8 years. (Salomon Smith Barney 2001 Fleet handbook)