I am pleased Australia’s second international long-haul airline, V Australia, has obtained all its necessary regulatory approvals to commence its planned services between Australia and the United States from next Friday, 27 February 2009.

V Australia will initially operate three direct services per week between Sydney and Los Angeles before increasing to daily services from March 2009 following the delivery of an additional Boeing 777-300 Extended Range aircraft.

V Australia also plans to commence operations from Brisbane in April 2009 and Melbourne in September 2009.

The entry of this new airline between Australia and the United States in addition to the services already provided by Qantas and United Airlines and the planned entry to the route by Delta Air Lines mid-year will provide travellers with greater options, put downward pressure on ticket process and support jobs in Australia’s aviation and tourism industries.

The entry of new airlines on the trans-Pacific route is evidence that the Rudd Labor Government’s policies aimed at achieve greater competition in the Australia-United States aviation market are achieving their aims and providing significant benefits for Australians at all levels.