The Fin Virgin’s rollercoaster return & why Australia is a two-airline town
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Jun 25, 2025 Join Ayesha de Kretser, a Senior reporter at The Australian Financial Review, and Anthony Macdonald, a Chanticleer columnist, as they dissect Virgin Australia’s dramatic return to the stock market. They delve into the challenges of operating in a volatile industry, exploring why Australia seems stuck with only two main airlines. The discussion highlights Virgin’s impressive IPO amid a tumultuous market and examines the future of domestic aviation, raising questions about competition and investor confidence in an industry still recovering from recent upheavals.
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Virgin's Bold Launch Story
- Virgin Blue launched in 2000 as a low-cost airline just before the Sydney Olympics.
- Virgin's cheeky marketing included faking acceptance of a buyout offer with Singapore Airlines and Ansett.
Virgin's Strategic Shift to Premium
- Virgin Australia shifted from low-cost to full-service in 2011 to compete for business travelers.
- This rebranding aimed to capture more premium market share against Qantas.
Virgin's Debt and Ownership Issues
- Virgin was weighed down by excessive debt exceeding $5 billion before the pandemic.
- Foreign shareholders had divergent strategic goals, complicating unified management.