Virgin Australia launches Canberra-Bali flights
A new way for Canberrans to escape the chill of winter.
By David Flynn, January 28 2026
Virgin Australia will begin non-stop flights between Canberra and Bali, offering an escape from the nation’s capital – and its frigid winters – into Australia’s most popular tropical getaway.
Starting June 22, flights will run three days a week through to January 2027 on a Boeing 737 with the usual three-cabin complement of business class, Economy X and standard economy.
Monday, Wednesday and Saturday will see an afternoon departure from Canberra, with an overnight return from Bali arriving back into the capital around 6am.
Flights are now on sale, with one-way business class from $1,499 and economy from $399.
Looking to book with frequent flyer points? Reward Seat rates are set at 22,500 Velocity Points for one-way economy and 49,500 Velocity Points in business class.
Batik Air notably ran the same route in 2024, but pulled the plug after just four months citing commercial reasons.
Virgin and its data-focussed backers Bain Capital clearly have more confidence in the prospects of Canberra-Bali
“Indonesia has now overtaken New Zealand as Australia’s most popular international travel destination,” notes Virgin Australia CEO Dave Emerson.
“Last year we carried more than half a million guests between Australia and Bali, and it’s great to see demand for the destination continue to grow.”
Virgin will be the sole airline with direct flights from Canberra to Bali.
The direct six-hour flight will save travellers both time and hassle compared to taking a domestic flight to Sydney or Melbourne, then changing to an international terminal for a flight to Bali – a process which can take 10+ hours.
“We’re delighted to be expanding our network with Virgin Australia and introducing Virgin’s first international service from Canberra with hopes that this marks the start of further international growth with the airline,” said Canberra Airport CEO Stephen Byron.
This will be the third international route for Canberra Airport, alongside Fiji (Fiji Airways) and Doha (Qatar Airways).
The airport has also been lobbying for non-stop flights to New Zealand, although Singapore Airlines’ Capital Express between Canberra and its NZ counterpart of Wellington failed after two years.
Qantas could be first to make a move on Canberra-Auckland, with the airline eager to build its presence in New Zealand – especially if the CBR-AKL route could provide an additional feed of passengers into its New York service.
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
24 Jan 2018
Total posts 866
I'd have thought most flyers in Canberra would be well and truly tied into the QFF program. Can't see this ending well for VA2. They should turn their focus to certain regional routes.
20 Nov 2015
Total posts 604
Maybe there's some CBR airport subsidy behind this? Agreed that QFF would have a lot of rusted-on CBR people, very dominant for the public service. Maybe Virgin needs to get cracking on a Velocity status match or status challenge for CBR residents? But I think it's a good start, three days a week should work well for a leisure destination and sure beats flying CBR-SYD-DPS or SYD-MEL-DPS unless you have QF Platinum membership (hello, QF First lounge!) and plenty of time on your hands.
01 Dec 2012
Total posts 89
You make a sweeping assumption about Canberrans. In fact, almots two thirds of people employed in Canberra are in the private sector (source: Canberra Business Chamber), so many will be very pleased to fly VA direct to Bali!
07 May 2015
Total posts 76
Yes, QF has a pretty solid hold on the public service but there are still plenty of people left in the Virgin Australia camp. My brother-in-law works in Canberra, not in the public service admittedly, I sent him a link to this story and asked which way he'd rather go to Bali, he said Virgin without a doubt. Direct flight in business class.
07 Oct 2012
Total posts 1252
Considering this is a leisure route, it is hardly about the "frequent flyer". There would be XYZ number of people out of Canberra flying to Bali, who currently fly via other ports, either on Virgin or other carriers. They simply need to attract a portion of those customers.
Noting this is an overnight flight, this also increases fleet utilisation, when they would otherwise be spending a chunk of the time on the ground.
QFP
22 Jan 2013
Total posts 99
Who can afford to fly out of CBR on QF? Unbelievable prices when compared to other similar sectors.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
04 Nov 2017
Total posts 360
@Boeing-Tragic
Considering DPS is a leisure market rather than a FF market, this would actually suit VA well. The OOL flights also acts as connecting overflow from SYD so I would not be suprised if ex-MEL overflow is routed through there.
Considering VA/Bain announced this DPS flight and has been non-committal/zero plans for for the new WSI airport with roughly 8 months to go suggests VA doesnt consider Western Sydney to be any sort of priority.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
18 May 2017
Total posts 40
I am from Canberra, and it has been such a hassle having to transit via Sydney, Melbourne or Brisbane for International flights. Canberra Airport is so easy to negotiate, either coming or going, and I am absolutely delighted that Virgin Australia are joining Fiji Airways in providing direct international service to these tropical getaways of Bali and Fiji respectively. I've used Fiji Airways from Canberra on several occasions, and it is so wonderful not having to transit via Sydney or Brisbane.
24 Oct 2010
Total posts 2582
Hi Filipe - thanks for adding a local (Canberran) voice and perspective to this :)
05 Dec 2017
Total posts 23
So does that mean that CBR and OOL are the only ports where Virgin pax have lounge access for Bali flights (now that ADL is nixed)? Not sure about Perth.
If so then a bizarre setup by Virgin where their largest passenger bases in the capital cities have no lounge access for short haul international flights to Bali and Pacific Islands.
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
24 Jan 2018
Total posts 866
Thank-you Gobbley, a valid and astute observation. Perhaps we're being taken for granted?
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