Virgin Atlantic, one of the world's leading airlines, has been awarded the contract to manage the cargo product for Australia's brand new long-haul airline, V Australia.

V Australia, the long-haul arm of the hugely successful Australian domestic carrier Virgin Blue, will start operating three times a week between Sydney and Los Angeles from 27 February, increasing to daily on 29 March 2009. Flight VA1 will depart from Sydney 21.30, arriving in Los Angeles 16.30 the same day. VA2 will depart Los Angeles 23.00, arriving into Sydney at 09.15 the next day.

In April the airline will also start operating flights between Brisbane to Los Angeles. Boeing 777-300ER aircraft will operate the new services.

After a competitive tender process, V Australia have appointed Virgin Atlantic Cargo to manage all aspects of their cargo operation, with a team based in Sydney. Virgin Atlantic Cargo's existing USA operation will look after the new services to Sydney from Los Angeles, a key airfreight gateway which Virgin have served for over 18 years.

John Lloyd, Director of Virgin Atlantic Cargo said 'We are absolutely delighted that the team at V Australia have awarded us this contract and have the confidence in us to deliver them a world-class cargo product for their operation. This is an exciting opportunity, which links our existing networks into Australia and the USA'.

'V Australia have awarded this important aspect of our business based on confidence in Virgin Atlantic Cargo's proven track record' said Scott Swift, Executive General Manager for V Australia. 'We see potential to capture a significant share of trans-pacific cargo business both from niche markets and the convenience of a cargo service to/from the US entering our extended network across Virgin Blue, Pacific Blue and Polynesian Blue' he said.

Virgin Atlantic Cargo have been operating in Sydney since December 2004 offering daily flights to London via Hong Kong. The newly created cargo team took over the management of these services from Air Cargo Partners on the 15 January 2009. John Lloyd commented 'I'd like to take this opportunity to sincerely thank Air Cargo Partners for all their hard work and support in representing us so well. In view of this development however, we feel now is the natural time for us to start our own operation in Australia'.

Virgin Atlantic Cargo currently operate to 30 direct destinations out of London including Shanghai, Nairobi, Dubai, Mumbai, Delhi, Lagos, Tokyo, New York JFK and Newark, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Orlando, San Francisco, Miami, Sydney, Washington, Boston, Chicago, Barbados, Antigua, Havana and Kingston and to over 150 onforwarding destinations worldwide. 2008 was a very successful year for the cargo team, winning two major industry awards 'Cargo Airline of the Year' hosted by Air Cargo News and Cargo Airline of the Year, at the World Air Cargo Awards hosted by Air Cargo Week.