• Snow Foundation Replaces Community Bus
• Airport Travellers Urged to Plan Ahead Tomorrow
• Snow Foundation supports HOME
• Work Starts on Airport Roads
• Canberra Welcomes Tiger
• Terminal Precinct Road Changes
• Pialligo Road Works
• Green Light for Canberra's New Terminal
• Capital City Airport of the Year for 2007
• Canberra Tames a Tiger
• Airport's Big Day Out
• Government Ticks off on New Dual Lane Roads for Motorists
• Virgin Announces Canberra-Sydney Service
• Virgin Blue Opens 'The Lounge'in Canberra

SNOW FOUNDATION REPLACES COMMUNITY BUS

The Snow Foundation has agreed to replace a Community bus, administered by the YWCA of Canberra. The new $50,000, 14 seat Toyota Hiace, replaces a similar vehicle which was stolen from the Lanyon Community Centre in June 2006, and not recovered. 

Snow Foundation Chief Executive Officer, Ms Georgina Byron, today formally handed over the keys of the new minibus to the YWCA Lanyon Community Development program, during a regular meeting of the Lanyon Valley Senior Citizens group.  “The bus provides a very valuable service to the Lanyon community and we are delighted to see it back on the road,” she said.   The Foundation also agreed to meet the ongoing costs of registration, insurance and maintenance.

The Snow Foundation has fully supported a community bus for the Lanyon community since 2001.  “Local community groups have greatly missed the benefits of the YWCA’s bus,” Ms Byron said.  So much so that the YWCA is already taking enquiries regarding bookings for the bus, which operates free of charge to community groups.  The YWCA only requires that the bus be returned in a clean condition and with a full tank of petrol.

The bus will be used by a range of community groups, such as the seniors wanting to visit local exhibitions and youth groups going to the coast on camping holidays.  “The Snow Foundation chooses to support this kind of community service because of the positive difference it can make to the lives of people.” Ms Byron said.

Accepting the bus, the YWCA of Canberra’s Executive Director, Rebecca Vassarotti, said “The minibus offers a unique service in the Lanyon area, enabling community participation in a range of activities which would not be possible without the Snow Foundation’s generous support. In the six months prior to the theft, 19 different community groups had used the bus, for a total of 149 days out of the 170 days in which the bus was available for use”.

In the 18 years since it was established, the Snow Foundation has provided assistance to more than 110 different community organisations and individuals.  It was established by Terry Snow and George Snow to provide help to the disadvantaged and vulnerable.

Further information contact: 
Snow Foundation, Sam Begg 0410 465 728
Rebecca Vassarotti, YWCA of Canberra 6239 6878.

AIRPORT TRAVELLERS URGED TO PLAN AHEAD TOMORROW

The Managing Director of Canberra International Airport, Mr Stephen Byron, has urged travellers to the airport tomorrow (Thursday April 24) to allow for long   traffic delays because of the Olympic Torch Relay.

A series of rolling road closures will start from 7.00 am and the City and Parliamentary triangle will be most affected, Mr Byron said.  

The closure of Parkes Way between Kings Avenue and Commonwealth Avenue between 7am till 10.15am would have a significant impact of traffic flows especially to the Airport.

“In order to avoid the possibility of missing flights, I advise all airline passengers and visitors to plan for potential delays of up to two hours as the relay torch passes through the centre of the city.”  

Action bus services will continue to operate services from the Brindabella Business Park to respective town centres but they would also be affected by traffic delays.

“Please plan ahead and leave early,” Mr Byron said.

For further information contact Canberra Connect on 13 22 81 or visit www.events.act.gov.au

SNOW FOUNDATION SUPPORTS HOME

The Snow Foundation has agreed to financially support a local community’s initiative to establish Home in Queanbeyan (Home). 

Home will provide 24 hour supported accommodation – residential, not institutional - for 20 people with mental illness who cannot live independently and have been, or are at risk of being homeless.   Residents will receive medium and long-term care within their own self-contained, one bedroom units (with 2 dedicated to respite care). There will also be a communal areas for dining and recreation.  

In its biggest single donation so far, the Foundation will donate $400,000 over the next four years to help get Home up and running as soon as possible.  

Details of the donation were announced on Monday, April 21 by Foundation Chairman, Mr Terry Snow and Father Peter Day.  More than 150 people from all walks of life attended the cheque handover, including Patron and former Governor General, Sir William Deane who said he had enjoyed a 70 year association with Queanbeyan where he used to shop on Saturdays with his parents when Canberra was a suburb of Queanbeyan. 

“All the ideas, inspiration and ideals that emerged from Kevin Rudd’s 2020 Summit are subservient to one basic truth,” he observed.  “That is how we treat the most disadvantaged in our society.”  All creeds and religions recognised this basic truth. 

The mentally ill were the worst placed among homeless people because they did not have a place they can properly call their home.” he said.

The driving force behind Home, Father Peter Day, said The Home in Queanbeyan was all about “hanging in there,” sitting alongside people with their daily struggle and  “ensuring that they knew they were loved and valued.”  It was not just about money and the Snow Foundation realised that. 

“Home in Queanbeyan is the inspired initiative of Father Peter who, when training for the Priesthood, witnessed first hand the daily struggle of the mentally ill on the streets of inner Sydney  - and later in Queanbeyan - and decided to do something about it,” Mr Snow said. 

“I understand that these life-changing street experiences taught Father Peter that the task of helping the mentally ill cannot be adequately addressed by governments and health experts alone.  We, the community, also have a responsibility to share our gifts and expertise if things are to change for our most vulnerable citizens,” Mr Snow said.

Terry’s daughter and Snow Foundation Chief Executive Officer, Georgina Byron, had discussed with her family the urgent  need to help relieve the plight of people who, with too little support, often become overwhelmed by their illness.

“The passion and drive of those involved with Home to help the most desperately vulnerable in our community is beyond question, and humbling.  We are delighted to help provide the bricks and mortar for this much needed initiative,” Ms Byron said.

Located in central Queanbeyan, the purpose-built residential facility will cost around $3.5 million to build and include a manager, a caretaker, support staff, and a team of community volunteers.  

Father Day welcomed the Snow Foundation’s generous support.  “Our first priority is to provide a Home for people; to love them back into life so they, too, might enjoy active and fulfilling lives within their community.” 

It will be a place where people will be free to come and go. “It will be their home,” he said. 

“Thanks to the generosity and compassion of the Snow Foundation we can make this happen sooner rather than later.  We also believe that the Queanbeyan Community is providing national leadership by tackling head-on this national crisis that lies at our feet.  Hopefully, Home will inspire other communities to do the same.” 

The Snow Foundation is the creation of brothers Terry and George Snow, who established it in 1990 to help the less fortunate in society. 

For further information:  Sam Begg 0410 465 728.

WORK STARTS ON AIRPORT ROADS

An ACT government and private sector partnership to significantly upgrade roads between Canberra International Airport and Civic was given the formal go-ahead today.  (Wednesday, February 27)

The ACT Minister for Territory and Municipal Service, Mr John Hargreaves, and Airport Managing Director, Mr Stephen Byron, celebrated the start of the works program with a sod turning ceremony on the first stretch of road to be duplicated.  

Under joint funding arrangements negotiated last year, the government and the airport will share the cost of duplicating a 1.3 kilometre section of Pialligo Avenue between the intersections of Beltana Road and Brindabella Circuit.  The ACT Government will contribute $7.5 million toward the cost of the road upgrade with the airport committing $5 million.   The airport will also project manage the upgrade and ‘gift’ it back to the ACT community as a public road.

“This is stage one of a project that when completed will greatly reduce travelling time and traffic congestion in the Majura Valley,” Mr Byron said. 

Independent studies commissioned by the Airport had established that duplication would ultimately reduce east-west travelling time on Pialligo Avenue from eight to three minutes.  “This project represents an important first step toward the development of true freeway conditions between the airport and the parliamentary triangle and Civic,” he said. 

The Airport had been highly aware for some time of the growing frustration of motorists accessing roads in the Majura Valley.  “Together, with the ACT government, we are doing all that we can to improve the flow of traffic to and from the airport.  We are delighted to be at last getting underway with an upgrade that should be completed around the end of the year.”

The duplication project also involves the construction of a grade separated interchange at the airport’s new entrance.  The interchange will eliminate present turning conflicts and allow uninterrupted traffic flows in both directions.  This in turn will require the elevation of Pialligo Avenue and the construction of a bridge to pass over traffic arriving and leaving the airport. 

“John Hargreaves and the ACT government are to be congratulated for their efforts to find a solution,” Byron said.  “We are confident that together we can complete this important upgrade on time and on budget.”

Click here to view map of road changes

For Further information:  Sam Begg         0410 465 728

CANBERRA WELCOMES TIGER

Tiger Airway’s inaugural flight from Melbourne today (Thursday, 14 February) introduces a new era of genuine low cost travel to Canberra, Airport Managing Director, Mr Stephen Byron, said today.  

Formally welcoming the new airline to the national capital, Mr Byron said Tiger had built a formidable reputation as a true low cost airline offering safe, reliable point to point services at the lowest possible cost. 

“Tiger is a serious new competitor and aims to carry around two million passengers in its first year of operation in Australia,” he said. 

“We are delighted that they have chosen to extend their value for money service to the nation’s capital.”   

“The response to Tiger’s first Internet sales promotion - 40,000 seats from as low as $9.95 – was spectacularly successful and sold out within days,” Mr Byron said. 

“Tiger’s genuine low cost approach to travel offers a whole new generation of first-timers the opportunity to fly and explore the graceful city of Melbourne and the nation’s capital city.  Anyone thinking of travelling should book online now and take advantage of Tiger’s fantastic fare structure.”

Tiger Airways will operate check in counters at the multi user end of the terminal adjacent to Virgin Blue.  “We are very excited to see Tiger Airways operating from the multi user end of our terminal,” Mr. Byron said.  “We built this important piece of infrastructure to accommodate new airline growth and now Tiger is a our newest aviation partner.”

Tiger’s decision to operate its brand new Airbus 320s on the Canberra services is another bonus for travellers.  The Airbus 320 offers travellers a wider fuselage, wider seats and more room in the overhead lockers for carry-on baggage. 

Tiger’s operational approach is based on Ryanair, Europe’s low cost airline which uses its low cost base to provide reduced air fares.

Click here to view Tiger Airways media release

For further information contact Sam Begg 0410 465 728

TERMINAL PRECINCT ROAD CHANGES

The Managing Director of Canberra International Airport, Mr Stephen Byron, has appealed to motorists to be patient during preliminary works leading up to the development of Canberra International Airport’s new $250 million terminal, starting Friday, 8 February. 

While construction of the new terminal will not commence until later this year, the preliminary works are required to deliver the site for the new terminal.

“The new terminal precinct is the most important piece of infrastructure undertaken by the Airport since the lengthening of the main runway. I am appealing to motorists to be patient and allow a little longer for their journeys to and from the Airport,” Mr Byron said.

The new temporary access road and car parks are required to deliver the Airport’s commitment to build the most green, modern, user friendly, internationally capable airport in Australia.

“The new traffic arrangements include the expansion of the current short-stay car park into the former rental car parking area, increasing car parking capacity by 400 spaces,” Mr Byron said.  “Rental car parking will move to a new site west of its current site and will be accessed by the extended Terminal Circuit.

The extension of Terminal Circuit will also allow for increased drop off space and expanded taxi rank facilities. 

“The creation of a one-way traffic flow on Tyson Drive will close access to the Brindabella Business Park from the terminal roundabout, and will mean that staff are encouraged to use the Brindabella Circuit roundabout entry off Pialligo Avenue as the most direct access point to the Park,” Mr Byron said.

Electronic signage and courtesy crews will be assisting motorists once the works begin.

The new terminal will be the largest development in the Airport’s 81 year history. 

Key features include a doubling of check-in counters from 16 to 32, a trebling of the baggage belt capacity and the installation of two new aerobridges.  Car parking spaces are set to double to 2,500 and lounge facilities will quadruple to 6,000 square metres.

Mr Byron said the Airport’s role was to build the required infrastructure and then allow the airlines to come aboard at a time of their choosing. 

Local company, Construction Control, will project manage the work which is expected to provide jobs for around 700 people.  The building will be designed by GMB Architects with work due to begin in July and finish in 2010.

AWT Consulting Engineers has been engaged by the Airport to design the structure for the terminal building and multi-storey car park.

For further information and updates are also available at www.canberraairport.com/au/changes

For further information contact Sam Begg 0410 465 728

PIALLIGO ROAD WORKS

Preliminary work to duplicate a stretch of Pialligo Avenue, Pialligo, started on Thursday, 13 December 2007.    

The work is approved by the National Capital Authority and includes land clearing and the removal of some ageing pine trees on a 1.3 kilometre stretch of  Pialligo Road between the intersections of Beltana Road and Brindabella Circuit. 

Canberra International Airport Managing Director, Mr Stephen Byron, said duplication of Pialligo Road is designed to significantly reduce travelling time and congestion in the Majura Valley. 

Independent studies commissioned by the Airport had established that duplication would ultimately reduce east-west travelling on Pialligo Avenue from eight to three minutes.   

The Airport is sharing the cost of the road duplication works with the ACT Government.  The Airport has also agreed to manage the project.

Mr Byron said residents of Pialligo were consulted about the works and, as a result, the Airport had agreed to increase the distance between the new stretch of duplicated road and adjoining rural properties.

Tenders for the actual construction of the duplicated road will close on 18 January.

Local companies are among the five businesses tendering for the work.   

Formal construction of the duplicated road is scheduled to start 1 February 2008.

GREEN LIGHT FOR CANBERRA’S NEW TERMINAL

Canberra International Airport has given the green light to the biggest development of its 81-year history. 

Starting in July, the Airport will roll out a massive $250 million works program to replace its current terminal and upgrade associated roads and car parks. 

Managing Director, Mr Stephen Byron, says the Airport will virtually double the size of its terminal and car parks and ‘revolutionise’ the experience of the travelling public. 

“Our new terminal is designed to achieve two key objectives,” he said.  “Firstly, to cater for future growth and, secondly to make Canberra the most modern, user-friendly, internationally capable airport in Australia.”

 Key features of the new terminal precinct include:

• a doubling of check-in counters from 16 to 32;

• the installation of two new aerobridges, taking the total to six;

• a trebling of the baggage belt capacity;

• an additional 1300 car parking spaces taking the total number of spaces to 2500; and

• a quadrupling of Club lounge capacity to more than 6000m2.

The decision to proceed with the construction of the new terminal coincides with major improvements to the Airport’s main runway and a major commitment by the ACT and Commonwealth Governments to upgrade regional roads, Mr. Byron said.  “These were the final pieces of an infrastructure jigsaw that cleared the way for us to invest in a terminal which we believe will be the best of its kind in Australia.”

Mr Byron said he was also delighted to announce that Qantas had agreed to become a tenant in the new terminal under arrangements consistent with those of Virgin Blue and Tiger Airways in the existing multi-user terminal.  “We welcome their participation,” he said.  “We also congratulate Qantas on its decision to expand and upgrade facilities in its existing terminal in the short-term.”

Generous check-in and departure areas will enable travellers to move about the terminal in comfort and with a minimum of inconvenience. 

High levels of visibility and ease of access will also allow travellers to move from car parks to their aircraft under one roof with ease and certainty.  

“We aim to create an environment that’s both calming and visually pleasing for travellers,” Mr Byron said.  “We know from experience that high levels of visibility are comforting to both visitors and travellers because they can tell at a glance the location of check-in counters, departure lounges or aircraft.”    

 
Work on stage one of the new terminal is scheduled to be completed by early 2010.

For further information contact:

Ken Begg 0412 174 319 / 02-6275 2222
Sam Begg 0410 465 728 / 02-6275 2222

CAPITAL CITY AIRPORT OF THE YEAR FOR 2007

Canberra International Airport has been named Capital City Airport of the Year for the second time in five years.

Airport Managing Director, Mr Stephen Byron, received the prestigious industry award at the annual Australian Airports Association dinner in Melbourne last night.  

The Airport won the 2002 ‘Airport of the Year Award’ for its leadership and excellence in national aviation and airport management.

Presenting the 2007 award, Association President, Mr Ken Keech said: “The winner really is a capital city airport in every way.”  During the year under review, the Airport had undertaken a string of major aeronautical and non-aeronautical works.  “Throughout the process, there was no disruption to any airline schedules, no mean feat when you lengthen the main runway by 600 metres to increase the airport’s capacity to handle large, wide-body aircraft,” he said.

The achievement was also notable because it involved laying 225mm of asphalt on the existing runway surface - and it was completed at night.

Completion of stage one of a significant business park, with its own 145-seat conference centre, was also a significant achievement.  So, too, was the fact that all buildings within the business park received prestigious Australian Building Greenhouse Ratings of Five Stars. [This is not right but this is what they saidS.]

Other achievements during 2007 included:

• The completion of the on-airport Super Centre with a 20,000 square metre factory direct sales outlet;

• A 4,000 square metre supermarket and a 1,000 square metre liquor store;

• Four further office buildings, each with a 4.5 star energy rating were completed in a defence precinct on the other side of the Airport for a variety of government departments; and,

• Three heritage-listed hangars were redeveloped and refurbished.

   

For further information contact Sam Begg 0410 465 728

CANBERRA TAMES A TIGER

Tiger Airways would introduce a new era of genuine low cost travel to Canberra, Airport MD Mr Stephen Byron said today.  

Tiger had built a formidable reputation as a true low cost airline offering safe, reliable point to point services at the lowest possible costs.  “Tiger is a serious new competitor and aims to carry around two million passengers in its first year of operation in Australia,” he said. 

“We are delighted that they have chosen to extend their value for money services to the nation’s capital.”  Tiger’s decision to operate its brand new Airbus 320s on the Canberra services is another bonus for travellers.  The Airbus 320 offers travellers a wider fuselage, wider seats and more room in the overhead lockers for carry-on baggage. 

Tiger’s operational approach is based on Ryanair, Europe’s low cost airline which uses its low cost base to provide reduced air fares.

For further information, please contact Ken Begg on 0412 174 319.

AIRPORT'S BIG DAY OUT

Canberra International Airport celebrates almost a decade of achievement this Sunday, 28 October, with a special Open Day planned for the community. 

Running from 9.30am till 2.30pm, the Airport’s free big day out offers a host of entertainments and activities for all the family, including an opportunity to get up close and personal with a range of modern and impressive aircraft.

“We are very proud of what we have achieved at Canberra International Airport and we want to share that sense of celebration with a community that’s very important to us,” Airport Managing Director, Mr Stephen Byron, said.  “I encourage all families to make the trip and enjoy the day.  We will be delighted to welcome you.”  

The day will be hosted by Scotty and Nige from  FM 104.7’s morning crew.

For aviation buffs, Qantas, Virgin Blue and Brindabella Airlines will showcase their newest aircraft – a refurbished Qantas 767 with updated colors and new interior cabin fittings, a Qantas ‘stretched’ Q400, a Virgin Blue Embraer Regional jet, A RAAF C130 Hercules and a Brindabella Airlines Metroliner.  

“As well as a fun day out, our Open Day provides an opportunity for those who are interested to see how a modern city airport operates,” Mr. Byron said.
   
For families with children, a host of free activities are available.  Jumping castles, face-painting, ‘inflatable’ worm rides, paper aeroplane and coloring-in competitions and penned farmyard animals.   

There will also be a demonstration by Airport Fire Fighters and ‘Scooby’, a black labrador with the AFPs canine ‘sniffer’ team.

“We want everyone to enjoy the day,” Byron said.  “It’s really all about families and, best of all, it’s free.”

And for those with advanced paper plane making skills and a competitive spirit, there will be an opportunity to challenge Airport staff in the paper aeroplane competition. 

Prime Possum, Kenny Koala, Milo the Clown and Natrix the Magician will also be on hand to provide entertainment. 

For further information contact Sam Begg 0410 465 728

GOVERNMENT TICKS OFF ON NEW DUAL LANE ROADS FOR MOTORISTS

The Managing Director of Canberra International Airport, Mr. Stephen Byron, has welcomed the ACT Government’s agreement to jointly fund a major road project that will significantly benefit Canberra motorists.

The ACT Government’s Budget committed $7.5 million to the duplication of Pialligo Avenue but the total cost of the project will run to around $12.4 million.  The Airport has agreed to fund the extra costs and meet the costs of managing the project.

Mr. Byron said the new infrastructure would enable the Airport to finalise the internal design work associated with a new terminal. “It was an essential prerequisite to us moving ahead,” he said.

“This is a critical piece of infrastructure that will effectively relieve traffic congestion along Pialligo Avenue and at Airport entry points by providing dual lanes for commuters between Queanbeyan, the Airport and Canberra’s CBD,” Mr. Byron said. “We will see as many as 8 new lanes providing better access to motorists using roads between the Airport and the city.”

The project includes the duplication of Pialligo Avenue (ie two lanes each way) beginning at the intersection of Fairbairn Avenue, Beltana Road and Pialligo Avenue and running past Canberra International Airport.

There will also be two lanes built for traffic entering the Airport and the construction of a grade-separated interchange at the Airport’s new main entry point so that two lanes of traffic can exit the Airport by passing under Pialligo Avenue and joining traffic heading into the City.  This interchange will remove current conflicts between Airport passenger traffic and regional traffic heading to Queanbeyan.

“In addition, a ramp for traffic coming from Queanbeyan to the Airport will diverge off Pialligo Avenue then coil its way under the newly elevated Pialligo Avenue and into the Terminal precinct,” Mr Byron said. “Equally a southbound onboard ramp will give passengers  heading to Queanbeyan an easy link onto the new road.”

Byron said that, subject to planning approval, the project would be completed by the end of 2008.  

“The ACT Government and in particular the Minister for Territory and Municipal Services, John Hargreaves, has shown great commitment to finding a solution to the increased congestion on Canberra roads,” Mr. Byron said. 

Mr. Byron said the construction of thousands of new homes built in Gunghalin has meant we have seen traffic using Horsepark Drive and connecting to Majura Road more than treble from 5,000 to 17,000 vehicles a day.

 “When you add this to the 28,000 motorists currently using Pialligo Avenue daily you can begin to see why we need this critical infrastructure” Mr. Byron said. (Roads are generally duplicated at 20,000 vpd)

Mr. Byron also thanked the tireless effort of the Roads Working Group established last year and tasked with the aim of finding solutions to traffic issues in the ACT. 

Click here to view a map of the extension.

For further information contact Sam Begg 0410 465 728

AIRLINE INTRODUCES ITS FIRST EMBRAER E-JET TO AUSTRALIAN SKIES & ANNOUNCES CANBERRA-SYDNEY “CAPITAL JET” SERVICES AS ITS FIRST NEW ROUTE

Virgin Blue has announced Canberra-Sydney as the first of a plethora of new Australian air routes it will operate with its 20 brand new Embraer jets, the first of which arrived this week.

The first EMBRAER 170 aircraft landed in the country from Brazil this week and was unveiled last night at a joy flight and Gala Black tie dinner for some of the country’s political, diplomatic and corporate leaders. The event coincided with the official opening of Virgin Blue’s new corporate The Lounge facility at Canberra Airport.

The 20 Embraer aircraft will join Virgin Blue’s existing fleet of 55 Boeing 737 aircraft, marking a carefully considered move away from the single fleet strategy for the first time in the airline’s seven year history.  The deal is worth more than A$850-million and is the largest single trade deal Australia has ever struck with Brazil.

The inclusion of the 78-seat EMBRAER 170 and the 104-seat EMBRAER 190 will provide Virgin Blue with additional capacity, the ability to fly to new regional destinations and the flexibility to tailor aircraft to suit specific routes in terms of frequency and capacity requirements in peaks and troughs.  It will also provide travellers with one of the most technologically advanced, efficient and comfortable jet aircraft in the world.

Virgin Blue Chief Executive, Brett Godfrey, has heralded the arrival of the E-Jet as a new and exciting era for Virgin Blue and its Guests.

“We have spent the past four years investigating aircraft options to give us maximum efficiency, economies of scale and the ability to venture in to new markets currently serviced by turbo-props.  We are confident the E-Jet is the perfect aircraft to deliver on all fronts both now and in to the future.”

He continued, “The E-Jet is particularly ideal for markets that require high frequency for corporate and Government Guests which is why I am pleased to announce that Virgin Blue has made the Canberra-Sydney route a priority and will re-enter the market with 108 flights a week, 8 direct daily flights on weekdays. The Virgin Blue flights will operate under the name “Capital Jet”.

The new Canberra-Sydney “Capital Jet” flights will begin on 4 February 2008 to coincide with the return of corporate and Government travellers back from Christmas break. Fares start from $99* one-way on the Internet and are now on sale. The additional E-Jet flights boost Virgin Blue’s number of weekly departures from Canberra from 58 to 120, a 107% increase in frequency. (* for fare terms and conditions see www.virginblue.com.au )

Virgin Blue is also set to announce other new regional destinations within the next few weeks following visits by validation teams over the recent months to ascertain airport suitability and capability to support potential Virgin Blue services.

Orlando Neto, Managing Director of Embraer Asia Pacific, was equally thrilled by the arrival of the E-Jet in Australia.

“Virgin Blue is a world-class airline and Australia is a very sophisticated aviation market.  Virgin Blue is known for setting new standards and we are very excited to be making this first delivery to the airline.  The mixed fleet of EMBRAER 170 and EMBRAER 190 E-Jets provides a perfect match for Virgin Blue’s supply and demand by extending their reach in the region and providing flexibility on seat densities.”

He added, “Embraer is committed to supplying comprehensive support to ensure the smooth operation of the new fleet.  This includes spare parts logistics and special programs support, as well as initial training for the airline’s pilots at the newly-launched, state-of-the-art simulator training facilities in Singapore.”

The Embraer jet aircraft have a seating capacity of 78 (EMBRAER 170) and 104 (EMBRAER 190) and boasts state of the art fly-by-wire cockpit technology, leather seats with generous width and seat pitch, sleek cabin designs and a quiet, smooth ride.

Two more E-Jets will be delivered to Virgin Blue before the end of the year, with the entire 20 scheduled for delivery by second quarter 2009. The mix of the firm order is for 6 EMBRAER 170 and 14 EMBRAER 190 E-Jets.

CANBERRA - SYDNEY SCHEDULE

CANBERRA - SYDNEY      EFFECTIVE 4 FEBRUARY 2008
 

 SYDNEY   - CANBERRA   EFFECTIVE 4 FEBRUARY 2008

Issued by: Amanda Bolger – Public & Media Relations Manager.
0403 137 071 or amanda.bolger@virginblue.com.au

VIRGIN BLUE OPENS ‘THE LOUNGE’ IN CANBERRA

Thursday 30 August 2007: Virgin Blue Airlines has continued its earnest campaign to lure more business and Government Guests, with the opening tomorrow of the airline’s newest and fifth ‘The Lounge’ at Canberra Airport. 

It joins Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney as Virgin Blue ‘The Lounge’ destinations and will provide travellers with a sleek, all-inclusive lounge facility when travelling with Virgin Blue from the nation’s capital.

The new lounge is located in the Departure area next to Gate 5 at Canberra Airport with panoramic 270 degree views of the runway and surrounding countryside.  Access is available to annual Members of The Lounge, Corporate Plus fare holders, and Velocity Gold Tier Members and their guest.  Single visit entry is also available for Guests travelling with Virgin Blue for $30.

Virgin Blue will offer a range of benefits for members and Guests visiting the Canberra Lounge for business or pleasure including:

• Business facilities, including meeting rooms, state-of-the art personal computers in a dedicated and private workstation area, and complementary WiFi access throughout.
• Relaxing Lounge environment, with plenty of lounging space, integrated work areas and Foxtel TV.
• Australia’s first airline lounge Barista service, providing great coffee all day, along with premium teas.
• Gourmet snacks and fresh menu items available throughout the day.
• A selection of beer and Australian wines available from 11am.
• Convenient check-in facilities are also available in The Lounge for Guests travelling without checked baggage.

Virgin Blue will continue to add innovative products and initiatives as part of its New World Carrier strategy which has seen the airline evolve from a Low Cost Carrier to an airline offering value-for-money premium products and service.

The airline has redeveloped the former Ansett lounge facility located airside which features generous floor space and can comfortably cater for more than 150 Guests at any one time, allowing for future growth in Virgin Blue flight frequency.

Virgin Blue Chief Executive, Brett Godfrey, said, “We have been very mindful of the feedback from our corporate and Government Guests in terms of their needs and a business lounge facility in Canberra was high on that list.

“We listened to that feedback, invested heavily in new infrastructure and are we are hopeful the opening of ‘The Lounge’ in Canberra will provide even more incentive for corporate Guests to choose Virgin Blue and save taxpayer and business dollars while getting all the benefits of a high quality, low cost carrier.”

The launch of the new Canberra Lounge follows hot on the heels of the announcement of the introduction of Status Levels (Gold, Silver, and Bronze) to the Velocity Loyalty program to better recognise and reward our loyal Guests.

Virgin Blue also offers fully flexible fares, schedules tailored to suit business travellers and Blue Zone (extended leg room) seating as part of its business friendly strategy.

Special corporate membership rates and Government employees’ membership rates are available at www.thelounge.corporate@virginblue.com.au.

Issued by:       
Amanda Bolger - Public & Media Relations Manager,
Virgin Blue Airlines – ph 0402 137 071