V Australia and Delta sign interline agreement to leverage domestic connectivity

Virgin Blue’s international airline V Australia and Delta Air Lines have negotiated and signed an Australia-U.S. interline agreement on the networks of each carrier and across the trans-Pacific route.

An interline agreement allows the partner airlines to carry passengers or freight on behalf of each other and also enables luggage to be checked through.

Effective immediately, the agreement allows travellers to purchase a single ticket from their Travel Agent, V Australia or Delta for travel between the U.S. and Australia on either carrier.

The agreement leverage's each airlines' domestic connectivity strength. Virgin Blue has domestic connectivity to all major cities in Australia while Delta has extensive domestic services to virtually every city in the United States. This agreement competes head-on with the One World Qantas American Airlines pairing.

V Australia commenced flights between Los Angeles and Sydney on February 27, 2009, and is planning direct flights from Los Angeles to Brisbane on April 8, 2009 and to Melbourne in September 2009.

Delta is expected to commence daily non-stop services on the Sydney - Los Angeles route from July 1, 2009.