LAX-Brisbane Service Begins Wednesday

It's amazing what a couple new planes can do when it comes to launching a new airline. Less than six weeks after starting its inaugural Los Angeles-Sydney service, V Australia will launch its second route, to Brisbane, on Wednesday.

The "long haul boutique style" airline -- we're not quite sure what means, either -- has added three weekly departures to Brisbane, in addition to its daily flights to Sydney. As with the inaugural flight, V Australia will use a recently-delivered Boeing 777-300ER on the Brisbane run from Los Angeles International.

Virgin Blue Group CEO Brett Godfrey notes trans-Pacific fares have dropped 54 percent over last year's figures, "a direct result of competition and a new player in the game.

"We are again pleased to be a catalyst for more affordable air fares on this previously duopolistic market," Godfrey said. "Already we are aware of people who have now flown V Australia between the US and Australia, be it for business or pleasure, who up until now, weren’t able to do so. We are very proud of that."

Godfrey added that "while it's early days, V Australia is performing to our expectations and based on feedback to date, exceeding those of our guests."

V Australia will be only the second airline to offer direct flights from Los Angeles to Brisbane. The airline's base LAX-BNE fares start from $530 for a return economy flight, $1849 for a Premium Economy return flight... and $5199 for a Business Class return flight.

For that princely sum, Business Class passengers may luxuriate in lie-flat beds... with "complimentary business class 'flip flops.'" We thought you'd like to know that...

FMI: www.vaustralia.com