Virgin Australia has announced a three-year partnership with the National Basketball League (NBL) and the Women’s National Basketball League (WNBL), becoming the official domestic airline partner of both competitions.
The partnership comes as basketball continues its rapid growth, with more than 1 million Australian participants, 1.2 million attendees last season, and a 20 per cent growth in broadcast viewership year on year.
It also sees Virgin Australia become the presenting partner of HoopsFest, one of the Southern Hemisphere’s largest annual basketball festivals, set to take place in Perth from 13 to 17 January 2027.
With Hoopsfest attendance increasing by an average of 25 per cent each year, Virgin Australia’s 250 weekly return services to Perth are helping fans, players and officials travel to the event, while driving increased visitation and a significant boost to the Western Australian economy.
The new partnership further cements Virgin Australia at the centre of the nation’s sporting landscape, building on partnerships with the AFL, AFLW, Carlton Football Club and the Sydney Swans Football Club.
To mark the announcement, Virgin Australia has launched a Perth sale over the Hoopsfest weekend, with one-way fares from major Australian cities starting from just $219 one way. The sale fares can be booked here for selected travel dates from today until 11:00pm AEST Saturday 23 May 2026.
Virgin Australia Chief Executive Officer, Dave Emerson, said the partnership reflects the airline’s ongoing commitment to grow its share of sport and fan travel.
“Sport plays a powerful role in connecting communities, fans and driving visitation, and Virgin Australia is proud to be the new airline partner of the NBL and WNBL as we continue to grow our presence in live sport tourism,” Emerson said.
“Through basketball’s growing popularity in Australia is an opportunity for Virgin Australia to help fans get closer to the action on the court, while supporting players, coaches and support staff travel to away games.
“Our partnership with the league will complement our partnerships with the AFL, AFLW, Carlton and Sydney Swans football clubs, further strengthening Virgin Australia’s commitment to connecting fans with the sports they love while supporting major events that drive tourism and economic growth across Australia.
“We’re committed to providing fans greater choice and value when travelling to basketball games and testament to that is our sale on fares to Hoopsfest starting from as low as $219 one way.”
“This partnership with Virgin Australia reflects the momentum behind our leagues and the increasing demand we’re seeing for basketball, with fans travelling across the country to support their teams and be part of major events,” NBL Group CEO David Stevenson said.
“We’re also thrilled to welcome Virgin Australia as the presenting partner of HoopsFest – which has fast become one of the most exciting sporting events on the calendar. This new partnership will help us continue to grow HoopsFest, easing access to Perth and deliver even more amazing experiences to basketball fans. I want to thank Virgin Australia CEO, David Emerson, and his team, and look forward to working with them.”
“I’m thrilled to announce that the WA Government has secured HoopsFest for Perth until 2028, with the event promising to be another slam dunk for both visitors and locals,” Western Australia Minister for Tourism the Hon. Reece Whitby said.
“The WA Government’s investment in this event is all part of our broader economic diversification strategy to strengthen the tourism sector and support local jobs and businesses, and I’m very much looking forward to seeing what’s in store over the next two years.
“This is yet another opportunity to showcase Western Australia on a national stage as a premier host for world-class events and build on our reputation as the fastest-growing events destination in the Southeast Asia region.”
