But what is a Breakation you say?

The team at Blue Holidays, the holiday partner of Virgin Australia, have essentially created the “new” short vacation, where your much needed break becomes a mini holiday!

Our point of difference is that fact that these holiday packages are individually tailored to the different people planning the trip. It’s not just couples who can have fun and reconnect — there are short break escapes for everybody, from the boys’ adventure to the girls’ getaway and the much-needed mini family holiday.

Exclusive Camilla Franks Sarong

With glorious weather, azure waters, brilliant beaches, fine food and wines, and range of activities, Hamilton Island is the perfect destination for our first offerings of short break escapes. They include return airfares, accommodation in the modern Palm Bungalows surrounded by lush tropical gardens, a range of activities, breakfast and more.

To celebrate the arrival of Virgin Australia’s Breakations to Hamilton Island, iconic Australian fashion designer Camilla Franks, has designed a limited edition sarong that is exclusive to the first 100 Virgin Australia guests who purchase a Hamilton Island Breakation from Blue Holidays, including airfares and accommodation.

The beautifully designed sarong combines Camilla’s signature style of brilliant colours, unique graphic prints and signature Swarovski crystals making it the perfect accessory for the luxurious surroundings of Hamilton Island (for more information about this very special offer visit our website).

*****

To help you plan your Breakation we’ve also designed a Facebook app that enables you to send a postcard that is personalised to your Facebook friends, inviting them to your next short break escape. Find out more at virg.co/breakation

 *****

Does a Hamilton Island Breakation sound like something you will want to experience in 2012? Will it be with a loved one, a group of friends or your family?

Not only will the evening feature Australians on the silver screen, but drinks will be served prior to the showing and there will be a reception to follow. Let’s face it, it’s the best thing Tuesday has going for it.

As the presenting sponsor and the official airline of Australians in Film, we want to treat eight lucky fans to a pair of passes to this fabulous movie night.

To win your way in, simply be one of the first 8 people to comment on this post with the first and last names of two people you would like to be added to the guest list. To be eligible comments must be posted by 5:50pm PST today.

It is all happening 6:30 pm Tuesday, January 24 at Harmony Gold Theater 7655 West Sunset Boulevard, Los Angeles.

Even  if you don’t win this time, you can still attend the screening!  Australians in Film members are free on the night and non-members are asked to contribute $20 to support future AIF programs and screenings or AIF welcomes you to join on the night.  Click here to become a member of Australians in Film.

Good luck, we hope to see you there. In the meantime, enjoy this action-packed, Worthington filled trailer.

Those Australians really have something special going on & we’re pretty sure we know what makes them so special — Australia. Don’t believe us? See it for yourself.

Virgin Australia can get you there in high style.  Fly like the star you are and experience our attentive in-flight service, boutique bars, gourmet meals, generous legroom, state-of-the-art in-flight entertainment, and unique mood lighting.  Explore our latest fares from LA to Australia.

No purchase necessary to win.  Sweepstakes is open to legal residents of the United States or the District of Columbia, age 18 or older at time of entry.  Winner must reside within the Greater Los Angeles area.  Transportation not provided.  Tickets are transferrable if designated by winner.

Rest assure – you weren’t seeing things; this morning’s events marked the beginning of an exciting new partnership. From today, Virgin Australia is the new official airline of Surf Life Saving Australia. Together, we will be raising awareness about the importance of surf safety for international and domestic tourists on our beaches.

Our cabin crew and Surf Life Saving Australia train with the Under 7 Nippers at Coogee beach

Too often we hear about drowning tragedies in Australian beaches and pools. On average, our dedicated, volunteer surf lifesavers perform over 12,000 rescues each summer. Sadly, many of these incidents involve international tourists who are unfamiliar with the conditions at Australian beaches. As an airline with hundreds of daily flights around Australia and overseas, Virgin Australia can play a key role in educating these inbound travellers on the importance of surf safety before they visit our beaches.

Through our in-flight magazine Voyeur, our in-flight entertainment channels and key advertising spots throughout airports, we will be spreading Surf Life Saving Australia’s messages of beach and surf safety to the over 18 million guests who travel with us each year.

In the lead up to Australia Day, one of the busiest days on our beaches, why not take note of these vital tips:

-          Read the surf safety signs.

-          Ask a lifeguard for safety advice.

-          Swim with a friend.

-          Always swim between the red and yellow flags.

-          Stay within the surf lifesavers eyesight – if they can’t see you, they can’t save you.

-          Swim parallel to the beach.

-          If you need help, stay calm and attract attention.

We feel very proud of our new partnership of Surf Life Saving Australia, and look forward to bringing you more surf safety messages and updates!

In addition to the toasties, soups, salads, themed meal and pass-around pizza and cocktails pies (5-7pm), you can now enjoy a hot dog, curry, or Mexican feast. A sample of what’s on offer (Sydney lounge dinner menu) follows:

Luke Mangan self-service Hot Dogs

Pass arounds 5-7pm – mozzarella pizza, lamb and rosemary mini-pies; minestrone soup; Israeli cous cous, Thai noodle, potato with sour cream and herbs salads; make your own Greek salad – meatballs, tzatiki, Greek salad (no feta), marinated feta cheese, pita pocket, Mexican cantina – chickpea & chorizo, tortillas, avocado dip, sour cream, corn chips, caramel slice, and a cheese plate. While hot dogs are on Melbourne’s menu, and curry is in Brisbane.

This has of course been designed by our chef, Luke Mangan!

We’re also pleased to bring you a more premium wine selection to enjoy it with!

This quarter’s selection is an all-Australian selection focusing on hero regions and offering boutique and big name brands – including Margan Rose, Capel Vale Sav Blanc, Knappstein Riesling, Phillip Shaw Chardonnay, Josef Chromy Pinot Noir, Pikes Shiraz, and Katnook Cab Sauv.

For the beer drinkers, Asahi returns to Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne, Corona added to Brisbane selection, and Beez Neez to Sydney’s range.

Note: Beer & wine change quarterly, food monthly with a different menu on offer in each lounge. New menus on the bar and buffet will also keep you up to date on what’s on offer.

Do these changes have your mouth watering? What else would you like to see on offer in our lounges?

Our airline has today launched Business Class on most domestic routes across the country that are operated by Boeing 737-700 and 737-800 aircraft, and on the airline’s fleet of Airbus A330 aircraft, giving Australian travellers choice in Business Class for the first time in over a decade.

Business Class will also be on our range of Embraer E190 routes, with updated E190 interiors coming in February.

Our offering includes new premium cabins with luxury leather seating and generous recline, a gourmet food and beverage service, as well as complimentary access to Virgin Australia’s lounges and priority security screening, check-in and boarding.

To develop the service, we assembled a group of experts in their fields to work closely with its team, including renowned chef Luke Mangan and acclaimed designer Hans Hulsbosch.

Virgin Australia Group Executive of Commercial Liz Savage said: “Last year we announced our commitment to bringing

Sydney Lounge's Premium Entry

competition to Business Class travel in Australia and today we have done just that. We are offering a premium product at very competitive prices, starting from as little as $429 one way from Sydney to the Gold Coast and $529 one way from Sydney to Melbourne” (Seats are limited, for full terms and conditions, please go to www.virginaustralia.com)

“We have also led the field in Australia by introducing priority check in; baggage and boarding and premium lounge entry in Sydney Domestic Terminal 2, which is all part of ensuring a quick and seamless experience for premium guests. In the last quarter of 2011, we have had Business Class available on trans-continental services and the feedback from guests has been excellent, demonstrating that the market is readily embracing our move into the domestic Business Class market,” Ms Savage said.

To celebrate the launch of Business Class, our Velocity Frequent Flyer program is offering its members the opportunity to earn double Velocity Points and Status Credits on all Business Class domestic flights taken with our airline between 26 January and 29 February 2012.

Today we can also announce that our Saver fare guests travelling between Adelaide, Brisbane, Canberra, Melbourne, Perth and Sydney on Monday to Friday will be offered complimentary beer and wine between the hours of 4:00pm and 7:00pm (AEST).

Do you see yourself looking to try our Business Class cabin sometime in the near future? Will you take up our offer of double points and double status credits?

Not only have we begun the year with the inaugural commercial flight between Brisbane and Emerald, but we have announced that from today, tickets are on-sale for a double daily return service between Melbourne and Perth, operated by our Airbus A330.

From May 14th 2012, the Airbus A330 will operate two daily return services including a daily peak-return morning service from Melbourne to Sydney.

Airbus A330 VH-XFB takes off

Daily Airbus A330 flights to Perth will depart at 1pm and 5.30pm local Melbourne time, arriving Perth at 3.15pm and 7.45pm respectively local Perth time.

Return flights from Perth depart at 8.30am and 5.30pm local Perth time, arriving in Melbourne at 1.45pm and 10.45pm respectively local Melbourne time.

The daily Airbus A330 service between Melbourne and Sydney will depart at 7.15am local Melbourne time, arriving Sydney at 8.40am. The return service will depart Sydney at 10.00am local Sydney time, arriving Melbourne at 11.35am.

By already having our designer Lounge at Melbourne Domestic Airport, and thanks to the wide-body Airbus, we will now be able to offer our full premium Business and Economy class service, for our guests that fly out of Melbourne as well as Sydney and Perth.

To book your next flight from Melbourne visit our website.

*****

Late in 2011 we announced that we would begin a new route between Brisbane and the Queensland Central Highlands city of Emerald.

Virgin Australia's Inaugural Emerald flight has landed

This morning the inaugural flight, where the ATR72, registration VH-FVH and operating as DJ1255, left a very wet Brisbane Airport.

Ninety minutes and 900 kilometres later, the French built aircraft, named “Four Mile Beach” after the beautiful Port Douglas beach, touched down completing her first commercial flight to the Queensland town of Emerald.

It was great to see such a good turn out to the aircraft’s arrival, as well as the community day that the Emerald Airport and Central Highlands Regional Council hosted on January 7th, where the wider Emerald community was able to get up close to the new aircraft and ask our staff and crew a variety of questions.

An area known for its rich, resource-heavy economy, the flight north certainly shows the diversity of the Queensland landscape, from the urban sprawl of Brisbane to the gorgeous Sunshine Coast beaches. Then veering inland and travelling over the browns and green shades of regional Queensland. It’s actually quite a sight to see the various types of emerald green that cover the central highlands area; clearly a benefit of the amount of rain that has fallen on the area over the past 12 months.

Morning flights Monday through Friday from Brisbane will depart at 5.45am, arriving in Emerald at 7.40am; with a return flight departing Emerald at 8.10am, arriving in Brisbane at 9.55am. Afternoon flights will depart Brisbane at 4.00pm, arriving in Emerald at 5.55pm; with a return flight departing Emerald at 6.25pm, arriving in Brisbane at 8.10pm. Sunday afternoon services will also operate to this schedule.

In addition to this newest route, we operate the ATR on:

* Double daily week-day return services between Brisbane and Gladstone

* Daily return services between Brisbane and Port Macquarie

* Double daily services between Sydney and Port Macquarie

* Up to six daily return services between Sydney to Canberra

View from the ATR72 over the Central Highlands of Queensland

The patchwork field design of Central Queensland

Emerald Airport Virgin Australia Check in

Have you flown or are you planning to fly on our ATR72? We would love to hear your feedback as to your experiences as well as any tips for those not familiar to some of our newest destinations!

The panel of judges, which consisted of business travellers, frequent flyers and the AusBT editorial team, picked our A330 trans-continental service as the best of any airline, which is a great compliment considering this is the longest direct route inAustralia! AusBT said the decision came down to the ‘consistency of planes and cabins, great meals and in-flight service’, as well as the limousine transfers available to our Guests in Business Class.

They also said our decision to relaunch Velocity Frequent Flyer in August this year ‘gave airline loyalty programmes a much-needed shake-up’. This was largely due to the unique family benefits of the program, such as the ability to take Parental Leave from the membership when expecting a new addition to the family and the option to automatically pools points and status credits with family members.

What other benefits would you like to see in our Frequent Flyer programme?

David White Virgin Australia Manager of Sustainability and Climate Change (left), Martin Ferguson, Minister for Resources and Energy (middle) & Robert Boyd Virgin Australia Principal Economic Analyst (right) at the opening of the Demonstration Facility at Somersby.

This month we were excited to announce that Virgin Australia will play a role in developing this breakthrough technology called Catalytic Hydrothermal Reactor (CAT-HTR). First-off, we will be assisting with further testing of the fuel CAT-HTR produces, with the aim of supporting its certification and reaching a commercial-off take agreement down the track.

Don’t let the technical name ‘CAT-HTR’ mislead you, this is a remarkably straightforward technology. You see – unlike current methods that require multiple processes – Licella’s CAT-HTR involves just one-step. By using water technology, CAT-HTR breaks down waste in one, continuous flow to create high quality bio-crude oil. What’s more, because it uses water, CAT-HTR is potentially a much cleaner and more cost-effective alternative to current methods.

We’re not the only ones embracing the great potential of this technology. Thanks to a generous grant from the Australian Federal Government, this week Licella was able to open a new Demonstration Plant at Somersby on the NSW Central Coast, which will be dedicated to further testing CAT-HTR. Our alliance partner Air New Zealand has also announced its support, which is great because we need a coordinated effort to develop sustainable alternative fuel!

We are excited to be a part of Licella’s bright future and look forward to sharing more updates on our sustainability strategy with you in the New Year.

On sale today for travel from 5 March 2012, the new service will see us operating a total of 78 flights per week between Mackay and Brisbane, which is the greatest frequency offered by any airline on this route (we also operate a daily direct, return Sydney-Mackay service on our Embraer aircraft).

Complimentary Luke Mangan designed buffet

Our Group Executive of Product and Guest Services Martin Daley said: “Mackay is an extremely important market for Virgin Australia. Not only is it the gateway to some of Australia’s most popular tourist destinations such as the Great Barrier Reef, it is also has a strong mining industry, which attracts corporate and government travellers.

“With the addition of the extra Mackay-Brisbane service, Virgin Australia now offers two more return daily services than any other airline on this route.

“We are also delighted to open our first ever lounge at Mackay Airport, which will enable us to provide a first-rate airport experience for business and leisure Guests. The space will offer distinct areas to relax, refuel and work, including business facilities, entertainment options and a Luke Mangan designed buffet.

The new 260 sq metre lounge, can accommodate up to 70 guests and features:

• Business facilities including spacious work stations, WiFi, PCs and fax / copy / printer;
• A private meeting room that seats up to eight;
• Panasonic high definition flat screen television featuring AUSTAR and free-to-air programming;
• Selection of magazine titles and daily newspapers;
• Self service tea and coffee stations; and
• A selection of beer and wine (from 11.00am daily).

Are you a frequent visitor to the central Queensland coast? Will you make use of our new Lounge?

We have today announced that we will be collaborating with industry leader, Lufthansa Systems, to develop a state of-the-art inflight entertainment system using Wi-Fi technology delivered to personal, hand-held devices on our aircraft.

Group Executive Product and Guest Services, Martin Daley, said the two companies had signed a letter of intent to produce and install the initial systems, known as BoardConnect, from mid-2012.

“This system, considered to be at the leading edge of inflight entertainment technology, provides guests with a wide range of products including video and audio streaming delivered on demand to personal entertainment devices or Wi-Fi enabled laptops.

Virgin Australia Aircraft will feature state of the art IFE in 2012

“Our new entertainment system will provide guests with more options than ever before to tailor their inflight entertainment experience to their personal tastes along with the freedom to choose how and when they access inflight entertainment.

“This latest product release, combined with our new Business Class and Economy Class cabin environment, further enhances the inflight experience,” he said.

Mr. Daley said the growing number of travellers carrying their own devices meant this new inflight entertainment system would allow Virgin Australia to remain at the forefront of technology.

Features will include:

* Ability to control and view content from personal entertainment devices (PEDs) and WiFi enabled laptops;
* Extensive range of movies, television and audio content;
* On demand controls to start, stop, rewind, fast forward and pause content;
* Selection of games for adults and children including arcade style games in future releases; and
* Service and Product information including destination / airport guides, travel offers and Velocity information in future releases.

Are you happy knowing that you will be able to use your own portable devices on board our flights?