Virgin Australia’s CEO to leave the airline

Virgin Australia’s CEO to leave the airline
Edited by Travel Weekly


Virgin Australia has announced that its chief executive officer, Jayne Hrdlicka, will be leaving the airline.

Hrdlicka said she was “very proud of what the Virgin Australia team have accomplished together since the depths of administration and the COVID-19 pandemic.”

The board of Virgin Australia will shortly commence a global search process for a new CEO.

“I have decided the time is right for me to signal CEO transition for this great airline and ultimately to pass the baton on,” Hrdlicka said.

“This is not a decision I have taken lightly, but the last four years have been heavy lifting across the organisation during the toughest of times. We are in the midst of the next phase of our transformation program and there is a lot to do and an IPO to deliver. The next phase of this journey is another 3-5 years, making now the perfect juncture to begin the process of leadership transition to deliver the next few chapters of what I’m sure will be a significant long-term success story.

“I would like to thank the board, the executive team, and all of the 7,500 fantastic people at Virgin Australia. We have exceptional people throughout our great airline who will continue delivering award-winning service to travellers throughout Australia and strong returns to our shareholders. I would also like to thank Bain Capital as a major shareholder for their support and trust in me as I’ve led the team over the last four years.”

Hrdlicka has led Virgin Australia as CEO since her appointment in 2020 after the airline was acquired out of administration by Bain Capital and supported by Virgin Group during the COVID-19 pandemic.

(Featured Image: Jayne Hrdlicka)

Latest News

  • Tourism

Global tourism roars back to life with APAC leading the way

The global tourism industry is roaring back to life as international arrivals are up 16 per cent compared to 2023, a resurgence is largely fuelled by the Asia Pacific region particularly Australia, ForwardKeys reported at the World Travel & Tourism Council Global Summit in Perth. While the region still lags pre-pandemic levels, the current pace […]

  • Aviation
  • Tourism

Travel in Oceania could add $166 billion to the regional economy and 1.1m jobs

A new report by the World Travel & Tourism Council reveals that Oceania’s travel and tourism sector could inject an additional US$112BN (AU$166.4) to the region’s economy by 2034, bringing the total contribution to a record-breaking US$336BN. According to the report, in collaboration with VFS Global and launched today at WTTC’s 24th Global Summit in […]

  • Conferences
  • First Nations
  • Tourism

WA leverages Indigenous heritage as a key topic at WTTC Global Summit in Perth

Western Australia has leveraged its Indigenous heritage to be one of the key topics of the annual World Travel & Tourism Council Global Summit being held in Perth (Boorloo). “Indigenous tourism has immense potential, empowering communities to be in control of their own stories and their own economic futures now that is regenerative tourism tomorrow,” […]

  • Aviation

Delta Air Lines opens the premium Delta One Lounge at LAX

Delta Air Lines has opened the Delta One Lounge at LAX, following the opening of the one at JFK in June 2024, bringing the premium lounge experience to the West Coast. The second Delta One Lounge, adjacent to the Delta Sky Club at terminal three and seats nearly 200 guests, is directly connected to the […]