Virgin Blue was launched in Australia in 2000 and is based on the simple idea that flying should be affordable to everyone. It introduced Boeing 737-400 aircraft carrying 162 pasengers on the intercapital Brisbane-Sydney route and laterextended its network as the timetable maps show.

These items show the operation of this new airline in the Australian market in its first year of operation. For example, inflight meals are paid for as required and there are no fancy airport lounges. Booking is generally done via the internet and boarding passes are produced by thermal printer.

Some of the items were carried by airline courier Chris Lloyd on first flights of the airline, others obtained in the normal course of flying by Richard Peck.

The Ansett items were used immediately prior to the collapse of the airline. These contrast to early Ansett material in the collection.

Virgin Blue Airlines Ltd, Brisbane Qld.

Used on first flights by airmail courier Chris Lloyd and on commercial flights 26 October 2001 by Richard Peck.

Airline ephemera, 16, paper/ card, Virgin Blue Airlines Pty Ltd/ Ansett Australia, 2000-2001
Two stapled A4 pages printed from online booking confirmation for flights on 26 October 2001, two boarding pases stampled to conditions of carriage form, leaflet "some things were never meant to fly". Also from previous flights by airmail courier Chris Lloyd of Adelaide, three stubs of boarding passes for earlier flights in 2000/2001, two bag labels, three pocket timetables, one first flight cover carried on the inaugural Adelaide-Brisbane flight 7 December 2000, signed on the front by Chris Lloyd (courier) and backstamped with a letter describing this flight and the aircraft specifications inside.

Two boarding passes used by Margaret Simpson to journey from Sydney-Canberra on Ansett (Kenell Airlines) on 28 August 2001 enclosed in an Ansett E-ticket folder. This was immediately prior to the collapse of Ansett. Cover cancelled 4 March 2002, the last trading day of Ansett with a previous baggage sticker attached.

Made: 2000 - 2001

2002/37/1

2000 - 2001