Virgin Australia and Air Canada have formed a partnership to provide their customers with increased access to destinations, improved flight schedules, and enhanced customer experience. This partnership is an example of the importance of airline partnerships in the industry, as it allows airlines to expand their reach and offer more options to their customers.
Overview of the Partnership
The partnership between Virgin Australia and Air Canada began in 2017 with a codeshare agreement that allowed both airlines to sell seats on each other’s flights. This agreement also included joint marketing efforts to promote the partnership and increase awareness among customers.
Under the codeshare agreement, Virgin Australia customers can now book flights to Canada and the United States through Air Canada’s extensive network, while Air Canada customers can book flights to Australia and New Zealand through Virgin Australia’s network. This has increased access to destinations for both airlines and provided more options for travelers.
Benefits of the Partnership
The partnership between Virgin Australia and Air Canada has several benefits for both airlines and their customers. One of the main benefits is increased access to destinations, as both airlines can now offer flights to more cities than they could before.
Virgin Australia has announced an expansion of its partnership with a number of airlines, which allows its customers to travel to more than 500 destinations globally. The airlines that are part of this partnership include Qatar Airways, Etihad, Hawaiian, United Airlines, Singapore Airlines, Virgin Atlantic and Hainan Airlines.
Additionally, Virgin Australia is set to launch a partnership with All Nippon Airways (ANA) soon. The partnership coincides with the airline’s plan to launch flights between Cairns and Tokyo’s Haneda Airport in late June, which will add over 30,000 inbound visitors annually, providing a significant boost to the local tourism industry.
Virgin Australia has stated that the new route to Haneda will be operated using its new Boeing 737 Max 8 single aisle aircraft and will take around eight hours.
These new routes and increased frequency provide more options and flexibility for travelers, making it easier to plan trips and find the best fares. This is especially beneficial for business travelers who need to travel frequently and require more options.
Improved Customer Experience
The partnership between Virgin Australia and Air Canada has improved the customer experience through shared lounges and amenities, coordinated flight schedules, and consistent service standards.
Customers can now enjoy a seamless travel experience with coordinated flight schedules and baggage handling. They can also access shared lounges and amenities, which provide a consistent level of service across both airlines.
Increased Connectivity
The partnership between Virgin Australia and Air Canada has improved access to international destinations, providing more options for travelers to connect between Australia and Canada. This is especially beneficial for business travelers who need to travel frequently between the two countries.
The increased connectivity also benefits frequent flyers who can now earn and redeem rewards on both airlines, providing more opportunities to earn points or miles towards future travel.
Loyalty Program
Velocity Frequent Flyer members can continue to earn and redeem points when travelling on eligible Air Canada services between Australia and Canada, the United States and Central America.
Members of both airlines’ loyalty programs can also enjoy benefits such as priority check-in, boarding, and baggage handling, as well as access to shared lounges.
Future Opportunities for the Partnership
The partnership between Virgin Australia and Air Canada has the potential for further expansion in the future. There are opportunities for joint marketing and promotions that could increase awareness among customers and drive more bookings.
Both airlines could also benefit from expanding their codeshare agreement to include more destinations or even forming a joint venture that would allow them to share revenue and costs on certain routes.
Conclusion
The partnership between Virgin Australia and Air Canada has provided several benefits for both airlines and their customers. It has increased access to destinations, improved flight schedules and connections, enhanced the customer experience, and provided cost savings for both airlines.
This partnership is an example of the importance of airline partnerships in the industry, as it allows airlines to expand their reach and offer more options to their customers. With the potential for further growth and success, this partnership is a win-win for both airlines and their customers.
