A Virgin Australia Airplane At Denpasar Airport In Bali, Indonesia
Indonesian air force soldiers hold rifles they guard near a Virgin Australia airplane at Denpasar airport in the resort island of Bali April 25, 2014. The pilot of a Virgin Australia plane flying from Brisbane to Bali on Friday reported a hijacking attempt after a passenger tried to enter the cockpit, an Indonesian transport official said. A Virgin Australia Airlines official said there had not been an attempt to hijack the aircraft but a "flight emergency" after a 28-year-old male passenger who was drunk had banged on the door of the cockpit trying to get in. Crew members seized the passenger, who authorities identified as Matt Christopher from Australia, and handcuffed him. Reuters/Stringer

Virgin Australia has unveiled business class suites in its new Airbus A330 fleet. It will be available on the entire A330 fleet by the end of October. According to Virgin Australia CEO, John Borghetti, four important factors were considered while designing the new suites. “It has to look good, it has to be comfortable to sit in, you’ve got to have privacy and it’s got to be practical.” He called the new suites as a game changer in the industry.

The CEO recalled the airline’s contribution in bringing choice and competition to business class in Australia in 2011 and claimed the new business class suites will set a new standard in domestic business class around the world.

Impressive features

In terms of features, the new business class has some splendid offerings such as the fully lie-flat beds, 16 inch touch screens, retractable privacy screens and tablet holders with additional side consoles to add more workspace. The seats are in hammock design and there are no metal bars allowing passengers to cradle in a comfortable yet firm way.

For extra comfort. there is a turndown service with memory foam mattress toppers and super cotton pillows. Direct aisle access is in place for every seat in a 1-2-1 configuration. The airline officials claimed that the beds are wider and longer than those currently available in any other domestic business class.

The airline has also tied up with Nespresso to overcome the challenges of making coffee at an altitude. Business class fliers will also get Luke Mangan designed menus, to be served in restaurant style. The CEO expressed the confidence that the new product will ensure that Virgin Australia is the number one choice for all premium travellers flying on important transcontinental routes.

Delta alliance

Meanwhile, Virgin Australia and Delta Air Lines alliance obtained final regulatory clearance to fly between Australia and the U.S. The route is set to witness more competition when rivals Qantas and American Airlines will begin new flights in a few months, reports SMH.

However, the approval from the ACCC is for five years and falls short of the 10 years sought by the airlines. ACCC chairman Rod Sims said it gave approval for a shorter period because of the "ongoing evolution of services on the trans-Pacific and the dynamic nature of the aviation industry.” While Virgin operates daily service to Los Angeles from both Sydney and Brisbane, Delta flies between Sydney and LA. Together they command 37 percent share of traffic on the key Sydney-LA route.

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