Virgin Australia has commenced its new direct route from Melbourne to Los Angeles.
The airline's first flight on the route, which has been dominated by Qantas and United Airlines since Virgin dropped the service in 2014, took off from Tullamarine Airport on Tuesday.
Virgin will now fly five return flights weekly between Melbourne to LA on its Boeing 777-300ER aircraft, complementing its existing services to America's second largest city from Sydney and Brisbane.
Virgin Australia has restarted its Melbourne to LA flights after pulling out of the route in 2014.Credit: Glenn Hunt
The airline last year launched new business and premium economy class seats for its trans-Pacific flights on board its 777s.
Last week Virgin revealed it would introduce on-board Wi-Fi on its domestic and New Zealand routes, opening up a new front in its battle with Qantas, which will also shortly introduce Wi-Fi for passengers.
Virgin had to cut Brisbane to LA flights from seven a week to six and cease its thrice weekly Sydney to Abu Dhabi in order to resume the Melbourne route.
The new flights leave Melbourne at 11.30am on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays, and arrive in LA at 9am the same day.
Flights depart LA at 9.10pm on Tuesday, Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, arriving in Melbourne at 6am two days later.
Qantas and United each have daily services on the route.
See also: Airline review: Virgin Australia business class to LA
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