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Virgin Australia Cargo (IATA: VA) is the dedicated air freight division of Virgin Australia, Australia's second-largest airline group. With access to approximately 3,700 passenger flights per week to 43 domestic and 15 international destinations, comprehensive cargo terminals across Australia, and strategic partnerships with Qatar Airways Cargo and Virgin Atlantic Cargo, Goodhope Freight connects Chinese exporters to Australia and beyond.
Key facts about Virgin Australia Cargo and its cargo proposition for shippers in China.
How to contact Virgin Australia Cargo for bookings and enquiries.
Domestic Cargo Bookings: 13 82 87 (within Australia)
Hours: Weekdays 8:30 AM – 6:30 PM (AEST)
Cargo Email: cargo@virginaustralia.com
Website: www.virginaustralia.com
Cargo Sales Email: cargosales@virginaustralia.com
Group Cargo Manager: Virgin Australia Head Office
Head Office Address: Virgin Australia Airlines Pty Ltd, PO Box 1034, Spring Hill QLD 4004, Australia
Brisbane HQ: 1 Rosa Street, Brisbane Airport, QLD, Australia
Long-haul International: Virgin Atlantic Cargo — responsible for all long-haul international cargo sales since 2009
Middle East & Beyond: Qatar Airways Cargo partnership (from June 2025)
Note: Virgin Australia does not accept direct bookings for international services — please contact Goodhope Freight.
Important: Goodhope Freight coordinates all China-origin cargo bookings with Virgin Australia Cargo and its partners.
Virgin Australia operates a modern, fuel-efficient fleet of Boeing 737 and Airbus A320 aircraft. All cargo is carried in the belly hold of passenger aircraft; no dedicated freighters are operated.
| Aircraft | In service | Passengers | Cargo Volume | Typical routes | Cargo advantage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boeing 737-8 | 15 | 182 | 1,540 cu ft (43.6 m³) | Domestic Australia, short-haul international | Fleet renewal aircraft; fuel-efficient; growing fleet |
| Boeing 737-800 | 74 | 176/182 | 1,591 cu ft (45 m³) | Domestic backbone, Trans-Tasman, Pacific Islands | Domestic workhorse; largest belly capacity in narrow-body fleet |
| Boeing 737-700 | 9 | 134 | 1,002 cu ft (28 m³) | Domestic Australia, regional routes | Regional and thin routes |
| Airbus A320 | 3 | 180 | 1,321 cu ft (37.41 m³) | Domestic Australia, charter | Complementary narrow-body capacity |
| Embraer 190-E2 | 3 | 100 | 760.7 cu ft (21.5 m³) | Regional Australia (VARA) | Regional connectivity; newest fleet type |
* Cargo figures are approximate and provided for guidance only. Actual capacity varies by aircraft configuration and passenger load. Virgin Australia's fleet comprises 108 aircraft as of 2026. The airline also operates Fokker 70 and Fokker 100 aircraft through its regional subsidiary Virgin Australia Regional Airlines (VARA).
Virgin Australia Cargo offers three core products for domestic and short-haul international shipments within Australia.
For general cargo, urgent medical supplies or permitted dangerous goods. Select your preferred date and flight for travel (subject to operational requirements and space availability). Maximum weight limit per piece: 60 kg.
For fruit, vegetables, flowers, plants, seafood and fresh meats. Select your preferred date and flight for travel (subject to priority, operational requirements and space availability). Maximum weight limit per piece: 60 kg.
For pets and animals. Choose your preferred date and flight for travel (subject to priority, operational requirements and space availability). Maximum combined weight (animal + container + attachments): 65 kg.
Virgin Australia Cargo provides access to approximately 3,700 passenger flights per week across Australia, with dedicated cargo terminals and partner facilities at all major airports.
Virgin Australia Cargo's international cargo capacity is managed through strategic partnerships with Qatar Airways Cargo and Virgin Atlantic Cargo.
| Route | Aircraft | Frequency | Cargo Capacity (each way) | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Perth (PER) ⇄ Doha (DOH) | Boeing 777 | Daily | 129 tonnes | Active since Jun 2025 |
| Brisbane (BNE) ⇄ Doha (DOH) | Boeing 777 | Daily | 30 tonnes | Active since Jun 2025 |
| Sydney (SYD) ⇄ Doha (DOH) | Boeing 777 | Daily | 21 tonnes | Active since Jun 2025 |
| Melbourne (MEL) ⇄ Doha (DOH) | Boeing 777 | Daily | [To be confirmed] | Active since Dec 2025 |
The partnership combines Virgin Australia's strong domestic network with Qatar Airways Cargo's global reach, delivering significant new capacity for Australian exporters.
Virgin Atlantic Cargo has been responsible for all cargo revenues on Virgin Australia's long-haul international flights since 2009. Under a long-standing sales and management agreement, Virgin Atlantic Cargo markets cargo capacity on Virgin Australia's direct services connecting Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane with Los Angeles, and the former Melbourne–Hong Kong route.
The Melbourne–Hong Kong route, launched in July 2017 and later increased to daily frequency, was operated by Airbus A330-200 aircraft with approximately 15 tonnes of belly-hold cargo capacity per flight. The route connected Australia with Hong Kong and mainland China, with onward connections through Hong Kong International Airport. Hong Kong Air Cargo Terminals Limited (Hactl) served as the cargo ground handler for this route.
Note: Virgin Australia's long-haul international cargo services, including the Melbourne–Hong Kong route, have been significantly reduced following the airline's 2020 restructuring. The Qatar Airways Cargo partnership represents the primary international cargo connectivity for Virgin Australia Cargo as of 2026.
Why Chinese exporters may consider Virgin Australia Cargo for Australia-bound cargo.
For Chinese manufacturers, traders and e-commerce businesses, Virgin Australia Cargo offers a strategically positioned air freight solution with three distinct advantages for Australia-bound cargo.
Australia's largest domestic cargo network with last-mile reach. Virgin Australia is Australia's largest domestic airline by passenger market share and operates approximately 3,700 passenger flights per week to 43 domestic and 15 international destinations. Through its dedicated cargo division (VA Cargo, launched in 2015), the airline offers genuine last-mile reach across Australia with cargo terminals at all major airports including Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Perth, Canberra, Gold Coast, Townsville, Launceston, Newcastle, Mount Isa and Port Hedland. For Chinese exporters targeting the Australian market — whether for e-commerce, consumer goods, industrial equipment or perishables — Virgin Australia Cargo provides domestic distribution that few international carriers can match.
Qatar Airways Cargo partnership delivers 400+ tonnes of weekly capacity. Starting June 2025, Virgin Australia operates daily Boeing 777 flights between Sydney, Brisbane, Perth, and Doha under a partnership with Qatar Airways Cargo. This partnership increases total weekly cargo capacity to more than 400 tonnes each way, with 129 tonnes each way on the Perth–Doha route alone. The Boeing 777 wide-body aircraft offer substantial belly-hold capacity, with 30 tonnes on the Brisbane–Doha route and 21 tonnes on the Sydney–Doha route. Effective December 2025, daily Boeing 777 flights from Melbourne were added. This partnership combines Virgin Australia's strong domestic network with Qatar Airways Cargo's global reach to more than 160 destinations, offering Chinese exporters a reliable pathway to Australia via Doha.
Comprehensive cargo products and terminal capabilities. Virgin Australia Cargo offers three core products — Same Day Service (for urgent shipments up to 60 kg per piece), Perishable Transport Service (for fruit, vegetables, flowers, seafood and fresh meats up to 60 kg per piece), and Pet & Animal Travel (up to 65 kg combined weight). The airline's cargo terminals are equipped with dangerous goods acceptance (both outbound and inbound), cool room storage, animal handling and perishable handling capabilities. These facilities, operated by partners including Menzies Aviation, dnata and Airway, support a wide range of cargo types and ensure compliant, efficient handling across the network. For Chinese exporters of temperature-sensitive goods, pharmaceuticals and live animals, this infrastructure is essential.
Goodhope Freight consolidates and negotiates on the China side, so exporters benefit from consolidated rates, predictable departures and local Chinese-language support. We work with Virgin Australia Cargo and its partners to confirm space on the best available routing for your Australia-bound shipments.
How to book Virgin Australia Cargo space from mainland China through Goodhope Freight.
How Virgin Australia Cargo's hubs and specialised services create value for freight from China.
Virgin Australia Cargo is built around three primary hubs — Brisbane (BNE), Melbourne (MEL) and Sydney (SYD) — with secondary hubs at Adelaide (ADL) and Perth (PER). From these hubs, the airline provides cargo access to approximately 3,700 passenger flights per week to 43 domestic and 15 international destinations. Virgin Australia is Australia's largest domestic airline by passenger market share and operates a fleet of 108 aircraft including Boeing 737-8, 737-800, 737-700, Airbus A320 and Embraer 190-E2 aircraft.
Comprehensive cargo terminal network. Virgin Australia Cargo operates or partners with cargo terminals at all major Australian airports, including Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Perth, Canberra, Gold Coast, Townsville, Launceston, Newcastle, Mount Isa and Port Hedland. These facilities are equipped with dangerous goods acceptance (both outbound and inbound), cool room storage, animal (AVI) handling, perishable handling and general cargo acceptance. Key ground handling partners include Menzies Aviation (Gold Coast), dnata (Sydney), Airway (Canberra, Townsville, Adelaide) and Airside Logistics (Mount Isa). In 2023, Virgin Australia signed a 10-year lease for an upgraded cargo facility at Launceston Airport to strengthen Tasmanian supply chains.
Qatar Airways Cargo partnership — the primary international cargo channel. The partnership with Qatar Airways Cargo, effective June 2025, represents the most significant expansion of Virgin Australia's international cargo capability in recent years. Virgin Australia operates daily Boeing 777 flights between Sydney, Brisbane, Perth, and Doha, with Melbourne added in December 2025. This partnership delivers more than 400 tonnes of weekly cargo capacity each way, with Perth–Doha alone offering 129 tonnes each way. The partnership combines Virgin Australia's strong domestic network with Qatar Airways Cargo's global reach, connecting Australian exporters to markets across Europe, the Middle East and Asia.
Virgin Atlantic Cargo partnership for long-haul international sales. Virgin Atlantic Cargo has been responsible for all cargo revenues on Virgin Australia's long-haul international flights since 2009, under a long-standing sales and management agreement renewed in 2016. This partnership previously included the Melbourne–Hong Kong route (launched 2017, daily frequency, Airbus A330-200 with approximately 15 tonnes of belly cargo capacity per flight) and direct services connecting Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane with Los Angeles. Hong Kong Air Cargo Terminals Limited (Hactl) served as the cargo ground handler for the Melbourne–Hong Kong route. While Virgin Australia's long-haul international network has been significantly reduced following its 2020 restructuring, this partnership remains the framework for any future long-haul cargo expansion.
Digital booking and tracking. Virgin Australia Cargo offers domestic bookings through its website and by phone, with online tracking available for registered users. The airline's cargo operations are governed by its Conditions of Carriage, and bookings can be made for one-off general cargo shipments through the cargo website or by contacting the cargo team directly.
With Australia's largest domestic cargo network, a major new international partnership with Qatar Airways Cargo, comprehensive terminal capabilities and a proven long-haul sales partnership with Virgin Atlantic Cargo, Virgin Australia Cargo is a growing, strategically positioned partner for Chinese exporters targeting Australia and beyond.