SENATOR THE HON BRIDGET MCKENZIE
SHADOW MINISTER FOR INFRASTRUCTURE AND TRANSPORT
SHADOW MINISTER FOR REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT, LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND TERRITORIES
LEADER OF THE NATIONALS IN THE SENATE
SENATOR FOR VICTORIA
MEDIA RELEASE
17 June 2026
$93 Million Isn’t Virgin’s Money
Virgin Australia must reverse its decision to expire COVID-era travel credits on 30 June 2026.
The Qantas group eventually did the right thing by Australians and Virgin must do the same.
Shadow Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development, Senator Bridget McKenzie, said Australians who accepted credits during the pandemic should not be punished for circumstances beyond their control.
“COVID travel credits are not loyalty points, they are customer money,” Senator McKenzie said.
“Virgin customers stepped up during one of the most difficult periods in aviation history. Many accepted credits rather than refunds to support the industry and keep airlines operating.”
“Now, Australians are being told that if they cannot use those credits before 30 June, that money disappears. This is simply not fair.”
Evidence provided during the recent Aviation Consumer Protection Bill public hearing confirmed Virgin Australia still holds approximately $93 million in outstanding travel credits, with customers required not only to book but complete travel before the expiry date or risk losing their money.
Senator McKenzie is calling on Virgin to either remove expiry dates on COVID credits, provide further extensions, or offer customers refunds where credits remain unused.
Regional Australians may also be disproportionately affected, particularly where travel opportunities are less frequent and airfare costs continue to rise.
“For regional Australians, travel is not always discretionary — it is often essential for healthcare, work, family and business. These communities should not be penalised because they have fewer opportunities to travel.”
“If Virgin can hold approximately $93 million in unused customer credits, Australians deserve answers about how much of that money is expected to return directly to the company rather than back to consumers.”
Senator McKenzie has written to Virgin Australia CEO Mr David Emerson seeking an urgent explanation.