Virgin Australia eyes China Southern code share to NZ, Vanuatu

By Andrew Curran.

A Virgin Australia Group company, Virgin Australia International Airlines Pty Ltd, has applied to Australia’s International Air Services Commission for permission to code share with China Southern Airlines on flights between Australia and New Zealand and Australia and Vanuatu.

In the January 22, 2026, application, Virgin Australia’s Head of Airline Partnerships and International Relations, Henry Cole, says the airline has inked a code share agreement with China Southern. He says that airline wants to act as a marketing carrier and place their designator code on Virgin Australia flights between Brisbane (BNE) and Port Vila (VLI); Brisbane and Queenstown (ZQN); Sydney (SYD) and Queenstown; and Melbourne (MEL) and Queenstown.

Subject to approval, Cole says the airlines want to start code sharing as soon as March. Depending on the time of the year, China Southern’s designator would feature on up to weekly 12 round-trips on the Brisbane – Port Vila route; up to 16 weekly round-trips on the Brisbane – Queenstown route; up to 10 round-trips per week on the Sydney – Queenstown route; and up to seven round-trips per week on the Melbourne – Queenstown route.

Virgin Australia says code share arrangement would improve South Pacific connectivity

The most recent Australian Government statistics, covering September 2025, shows Virgin Australia operated 241 flights across its three Australia – New Zealand routes that month, carrying 36,643 passengers. 

On the Brisbane – Port Vila route, Virgin Australia operated 62 flights in September, carrying 7,963 passengers. China Southern Airlines does not fly to Port Vila or Queenstown.

The application says the new code sharing arrangement with China Southern would improve connectivity between China, Australia, New Zealand, and the South Pacific; improve access to Queenstown and Port Vila; support inbound tourism and regional opportunities; and increase consumer choice.

Cole notes the proposed arrangement does not alter existing capacity allocations on the routes; does not change the commercial structure of the previously approved free-sale code share arrangements; complies with existing Australia – New Zealand and Australia – Vanuatu air services agreements; and aligns with the conditions and rules of existing determinations.

Application seeks to end NZ code share partnership with Etihad

Virgin Australia International Airlines Pty Ltd is one of many privately held companies within the Virgin Australia Group. Aero South Pacific’s Virgin Australia 2H 2025 Business Report, published in July 2025, noted that the sole shareholder of Virgin Australia International Airlines Pty Ltd was another shelf entity called Virgin Australia International Holdings Pty Ltd. Ownership can be traced up to BC Hart Company Pty Ltd (a Bain Capital entity) and eventually, the publicly listed Virgin Australia Holdings Limited.

Virgin Australia’s application also seeks to remove a pre-existing condition allowing Etihad to place its designator on Virgin Australia’s New Zealand services. Etihad and Virgin Australia dissolved their long-standing partnership after Qatar Airways acquired a stake in Virgin Australia in late 2024.

You can read Virgin Australia’s application here.

Photo: Virgin Australia.

Contact the writer: andrew@aerosouthpacific.com