Virgin Australia is continuing to re-grow its short-haul international network, with services to Vanuatu and Samoa set to take off in early 2023, alongside the first ever flights between the Gold Coast and Bali.

The services come alongside the recently re-introduced services to Nadi in Fiji and from Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane to Bali this week (Jun 14 and 17 respectively).

Flights to Queenstown, New Zealand, take off later this year, then up next in 2023 is Brisbane to Port Vila (Mar 10), Sydney to Apia in Samoa (Mar 21), Brisbane to Apia (Mar 23) and the Gold Coast to Bali (Mar 29).

Virgin Australia Group CEO, Jayne Hrdlicka, said the addition of the new Bali service reflected the growth in demand for services in and out of the Gold Coast Airport as well as the airline’s expanding presence there, with the new route set to further enhance Virgin Australia’s network from the Gold Coast.

“We are currently seeing continued growth in travel demand for Gold Coast services and are operating up to 180 domestic flights outbound each week,” she said.

“In May alone our Gold Coast bookings were up 55 per cent compared to 2019, with bookings on our existing Bali flights up 48 per cent for the same period and growing every week.

“With the addition of the Gold Coast Airport terminal expansion and demand for Bali rising, the time is right to connect these two famous holiday destinations as well as the surf breaks, wellness activities and nightlife that comes with them.”

Hrdlicka said the addition of Samoa and Vanuatu to Virgin Australia’s network will give holiday makers a greater choice of Pacific Island destinations as well as provide those wanting to reconnect with friends and family the opportunity to do so as both destinations open to international travel post COVID-19.