Virgin Australia delay and cancellation compensation

1.73%

Cancels

Of its scheduled flights

80.36%

Arrives on time

Within 15 minutes

91,731

Flights measured

January 2025 – August 2026

The cancellation rate is the number that matters on this page: cancellation is what triggers a refund right. Delay, in the United States, does not.

Which rules apply to a Virgin Australia flight depends on where you take off

Virgin Australia is not based in a country with its own compensation scheme, so what you are owed follows the departure airport rather than the airline. Leaving an EU airport puts you under EC 261 whoever you fly; leaving a UK airport puts you under UK261; leaving a US airport gives you refund rights but no compensation.

The one rule that applies everywhere

If Virgin Australia cancels your flight and you decline the alternative, you are owed your money back for the unused portion — whatever the reason, weather included. A voucher is something you may accept, never something you can be required to take.

Where Virgin Australia flies from, and what applies there

Departing from Flights Scheme that applies
Australia 91,731 No compensation scheme

About Virgin Australia's record

Is Virgin Australia reliable?

Virgin Australia arrived on time 80.36% of the time across 91,731 flights, ranking 28 of 86 airlines measured. That is a good record by the standards of this data.

How often does Virgin Australia cancel flights?

1.73% of its scheduled flights were cancelled. Cancellation matters more than delay for a traveller: it is the outcome that costs a day, and the one that triggers a refund entitlement.

This page explains published rules and is not legal advice. AirlineGrades is independent and not affiliated with Virgin Australia. Confirm current thresholds with the relevant regulator before relying on them. The full guide →