Ballina Byron Gateway Airport marks 20 years with Virgin Australia

BALLINA Byron Gateway Airport is celebrating 20 years of partnership with Virgin Australia, marking a significant milestone for the region’s aviation sector.

As part of this enduring relationship, Virgin even named one of its 737-800 aircraft ‘Ballina Beach’ as a tribute to the local area.

Airport manager Julie Stewart expressed pride in the partnership.

“We are incredibly proud of our long-standing partnership with Virgin Australia,” she said.

“Over the past two decades, we have worked together to provide seamless travel experiences and foster economic growth in the region.

“We look forward to continuing this successful collaboration for many more years to come.”

Virgin Australia, originally known as Virgin Blue, launched its first flight into Ballina-Byron on 5 August 2004.

Since then, the partnership has grown, transforming the Ballina-Sydney route into one of the busiest intrastate routes in Australia.

In the 2024 financial year, Virgin Australia operated 175,000 seats on this route, reflecting ongoing demand and growth.

Over the past two decades, the company has carried nearly two million passengers through Ballina Byron Gateway Airport.

The celebration comes at a challenging time for the aviation industry, following the collapse of Bonza and Rex airlines.

Rex had ceased operating services to Ballina in 2020.