Virgin Blue and Emirates have joined forces in a new interline agreement to provide a seamless, single ticket option for travellers flying between 13 destinations in Australia and destinations across all continents worldwide.

The new commercial agreement between the airlines will offer greater choice and value to the Australian public, allowing seamless travel between the additional cities and regional towns that Virgin Blue flies to within Australia and Emirates’ extensive network of over 100 destinations in more than 60 countries.

For travellers, it means an enhanced travel experience with simple, streamlined ticketing and interline of checked baggage through to the final Emirates destination. Interline Guests transiting through Sydney, Brisbane and Perth will also be provided with free transfers between the domestic and international airports for their convenience.

Reciprocal Frequent Flyer programs between Virgin Blue and Emirates also enables Virgin’s Velocity and Emirates Skywards Members to earn and redeem Velocity or Skywards Points on both Virgin Blue and Emirates flights on a one-for-one point basis.

Virgin Blue CEO Brett Godfrey said: “We are very pleased to partner with such a highly regarded airline and to be able to offer travellers the convenience of full through-check from their point of origin in Australia to port of destination internationally across Virgin Blue’s Australian destinations and Emirates’ global network.”

Emirates Airline VP Australia, Stephen Pearse, said: “We look forward to working with Virgin Blue through this agreement and we hope to grow this relationship to deliver a truly competitive offering for our customers Australia-wide.

“This agreement opens-up a viable international travel alternative for those Australians residing in regional towns or cities where flight services are more limited, and we are confident the Virgin Blue/Emirates offering will prove hugely popular amongst business and leisure travellers alike.”

Through fares will be available from Adelaide, Albury, Cairns, Canberra, Coffs Harbour, Gold Coast, Hobart, Launceston, Mackay, Mildura, Port Macquarie, Rockhampton, and Townsville through all of Emirates Australian gateway cities – Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth and Sydney.