Virgin Australia Opens New Horizons With Canberra’s First International Flights

Virgin Australia has officially launched its first international service from Canberra, opening a direct gateway between Australia’s capital city and the tropical paradise of Bali. The inaugural flights, which are set to commence on 22 June 2026, represent a landmark moment not only for the airline but for Canberra Airport and its passengers, who will soon be able to jet overseas without routing through Sydney, Melbourne or other larger hubs.

This seasonal route—scheduled to operate three return services per week—will significantly expand Canberra’s international travel options, adding more than 40,000 seats annually between the ACT and one of Australia’s most beloved holiday destinations. The service is planned to run from April through January in line with peak demand, and there’s potential for increased frequency during especially busy periods.

Virgin Australia’s decision to fly internationally from Canberra is part of its broader strategy to grow its network and offer greater choice and connectivity for travellers. Built around the Boeing 737-800 aircraft, these flights will feature the airline’s three cabin offerings—Business, Economy and Economy X with extra legroom for added comfort.

For many Canberrans, this direct route to Bali’s Denpasar (Ngurah Rai) Airport represents a long-awaited convenience. Previously, travellers bound for overseas destinations like Bali often had to catch a domestic flight to another city and transfer to an international service—an arrangement that typically adds hours of travel time. With these new flights, passengers can enjoy a streamlined journey from Canberra’s own airport.

According to Virgin Australia CEO Dave Emerson, the new service is more than just a flight route—it’s an important strategic milestone. He notes that this is the first time in the airline’s history that it will operate international flights out of Canberra, making Virgin the only Australia-based carrier to provide this direct link between the nation’s capital and an overseas destination.

While Bali has long been one of Australia’s most popular overseas holiday spots—now even more so than New Zealand—this direct link is expected to further fuel leisure travel demand from Canberra and the surrounding regions. In the year to October 2025, nearly 1.76 million Australians visited Indonesia, with most heading to Bali.

The flight schedule has been designed with convenience in mind. Outbound services depart Canberra in the afternoon, while return flights overnight from Bali—optimising holidaymakers’ time and allowing them to maximise their stay. Tickets for the new service have already gone on sale, with return fares starting from around $399 for Economy Lite, $499 for Economy Choice, and approximately $1,449 for Business Class for the inaugural season.

From a broader perspective, adding international connectivity from Canberra represents a big win for the city’s tourism and travel sectors. The new route not only enhances Canberra’s accessibility for leisure travellers but also offers added convenience for business travellers, diplomatic missions, educational groups and others who regularly travel internationally.

This enhancement in accessibility has secondary benefits, including boosting longer stays in the city by visitors and boosting demand for different types of accommodation. For example, many travellers now choose furnished apartments in Canberra as a comfortable and flexible alternative to traditional hotels—especially for extended stays, relocation needs, or while attending conferences, study programs or family visits. Furnished apartments offer the convenience of home-like amenities combined with prime locations near key business districts, cultural attractions and transport hubs, making them particularly appealing to both international visitors and domestic travellers alike.

Canberra Airport CEO Stephen Byron has also hailed the launch as a transformative development, highlighting the importance of expanding the airport’s reach. He says the introduction of this international service is warmly welcomed by travellers across the region and expresses optimism that this is just the beginning of further global routes out of the ACT.

The launch of the Canberra–Bali route also reinforces Virgin Australia’s broader position within Australia’s competitive aviation landscape. Currently, Virgin operates multiple direct services to Bali from major east-coast cities including Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and the Gold Coast—giving passengers more options for how and where they choose to travel.

While the new Bali flights are seasonal initially, the airline’s success on this route could lay the groundwork for additional international destinations from Canberra in the future. Other overseas links—such as services to the South Pacific or Asia—could potentially follow if demand and market conditions continue to support expansion.

In summary, Virgin Australia’s launch of its first international flights from Canberra signifies a major step forward for the city’s connectivity on the global stage. It provides travellers with a direct and efficient route to Bali, enhances choice within the airline’s growing network, and strengthens Canberra’s position as an international travel hub. With convenient schedules, competitive fares, and increased travel options, this new service is poised to be warmly embraced by holidaymakers and business travellers alike.