The profit prediction and drive to rein in costs comes as the carrier prepares to land itself back on the Australian sharemarket amid widespread expectations that the company will go public at some point next year. The group also committed to a net-zero emissions target by 2050 as investors increasingly focus on companies’ environmental, social and corporate credentials.

Virgin credited the resurgent demand for travel, the reopening of domestic and international borders, high vaccination rates and Australia’s new attitude towards “living with” COVID-19 for its marked fourth-quarter improvement. But its directors did admit the company’s operational performance had not kept pace with the rapid rebound in domestic travel.

“Over Easter, Virgin Australia recorded its busiest travel period since before the pandemic, with Easter Monday a milestone day for Virgin Australia, with the highest number of daily passengers flying since before the pandemic,” they said in the financial report.

“However, similar to most airlines globally, Virgin Australia also encountered operational resilience issues – largely attributable to ongoing team member illness – resulting in material network disruption in the fourth quarter and requiring Virgin Australia to take proactive measures to reduce flying capacity in the short term.”

Virgin’s domestic cancellation rate was 7.7 per cent in July and just half of its flights arrived or departed on time, according to BITRE data. But the company says its internal metrics show marked improvement since then, with a completion rate of nearly 98 per cent for August and an on-time departure and arrival rate trending at 70 per cent.

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“Our workforce has grown to more than 7,000 strong and since the July school holidays, we have employed over 500 people in key operational roles as well as making rostering adjustments which will support the busy period,” a Virgin spokesperson said, explaining that the company had hired more pilots, cabin crew and baggage handlers to meet demand.

Rival carriers Qantas and Rex also finished in the red in the 12 months to June 30, with a full-year loss of $1.86 billion and $68 million, respectively.

Since re-launching in November 2020, Virgin has grown its 737 fleet by more than 50 per cent from 55 aircraft to 88, with 77 in operation before the end of the financial year. The directors report stated Virgin’s growth strategy remained focused on obtaining a 33 per cent share of the domestic travel market.

with Bloomberg