The operators of Virgin Blue Australia have announced details of their new international airline that will run long haul flights from Australia to the west coast of the US from November 2008. Named V Australia this new airline will service a route that Qantas has dominated for many years.

Along with this announcement Virgin Blue’s chief executive, Brett Godfrey also announced that V Australia will operate a fleet of 7 Boeing 777-300ER, this is opposed to the current operators of Qantas and United Airlines that are currently running the Boeing 747 Aircraft. In total V Australia will be competing with four other airlines, the other two being Air New Zealand who code share with United Airlines and American Airlines that code share with Qantas.

The airlines name V Australia was chosen from a competition that Virgin Blue Australia ran earlier this year, in additional to naming the airline the public were also asked to name the companies first launch aircraft, with the name “Didgeree Blue” being chosen.

Virgin Blue Airlines chief executive, Brett Godfrey, said: “This is the first time in decades Australia has a start up long haul international airline and we look forward to bringing competitive air fares and a new style of service to the transpacific market."

The configuration of the V Australia aircraft which will service this route still remain unclear, and a secret the company is keeping close to its chest.

Virgin Blue has received regulatory approval from Australia’s International Air Services Commission (IASC) for eastern Australia to the US and is now waiting for regulatory approval from the US authorities.

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