Virgin Australia renews AFL, AFLW airline agreement ahead of 2026 season

Australia – Virgin Australia has announced it will extend its partnership with the Australian Football League (AFL) through to 2030, with less than a month remaining before the start of the 2026 Toyota AFL Premiership season.

Under the renewed agreement, the airline will continue to fly all 19 AFL and AFLW clubs nationwide, transporting players, coaches, league officials and support staff. The arrangement positions the partnership as one of the largest airline agreements in Australian sport.

The extension comes as interstate travel by AFL fans continues to rise. AFL and club memberships increased by 15 per cent to more than 1.3 million in 2025, while attendance has grown by more than 22 per cent since 2022. More than 500,000 fans travelled interstate in the past year to support their teams, with further growth expected.

During the 2025 Toyota AFL and NAB AFLW seasons, Virgin Australia operated more domestic flights than any other Australian airline, supporting major events such as Gather Round and the 2025 Toyota Finals Series.

Survey data cited by the airline indicates that AFL fans who are aware of the partnership are almost 70 per cent more likely to consider flying with Virgin Australia when travelling to games. The airline said this underscores the commercial value of the agreement.

As part of the partnership, AFL players will receive prioritised access to Virgin Australia’s Economy X seating for game-day travel, which includes additional legroom and preferred overhead locker space.

To mark the partnership extension, Virgin Australia has launched a limited airfare sale, offering one-way fares from $49 to select away-game cities. The sale is available from 10:00am AEST on 5 February until 11:00pm AEST on Saturday, 7 February 2026, for travel dates between 23 February and 30 June 2026.

Virgin Australia Chief Executive Officer Dave Emerson said the airline was proud to continue its association with the league.

“Footy is stitched into the fabric of Australian culture, and we’re proud to play our part in connecting fans to the moments that matter. As the official airline of the AFL and AFLW, we’ve seen firsthand the growing appetite in Australians travelling for events and experiences, and our extended partnership allows us to deliver even greater value and choice for fans heading to the game they love,” he said.

He added, “There is a huge opportunity for Virgin Australia to leverage the AFL travel market, and we’ll continue raising the bar with more value, and fan-first experiences when our guests fly to see their teams.”

Meanwhile, AFL Chief Executive Officer Andrew Dillon said the league welcomed the extension as it marked a long-standing relationship between the two organisations.

“As we celebrate 15 years flying together in 2026, the AFL is pleased to extend our partnership with Virgin Australia. Fans are the heartbeat of our game, and together with Virgin Australia we will continue to connect more people with key moments and events throughout the season,” he said.

Dillon added, “It is shaping up to be another big year for the game, with a sold-out AAMI AFL Origin, the AAMI Community Series starting and then the opening of the home and away season all in the next month to get 2026 off to a massive start. The partnership with Virgin Australia will help deliver more value and choice for fans to travel and support their club across Australia.”

Virgin Australia Chief Marketing & Customer Operations Officer Libby Minogue said the partnership aligns with the airline’s focus on community connection.

“Partnering with Australia’s most-loved sport gives Virgin Australia the opportunity to bring fans and communities together, something that sits at the heart of what we do. Our continued partnership with the AFL and AFLW delivers value to our brand, with AFL fans almost 70 per cent more likely to consider flying with Virgin Australia when flying to a game,” she said.

AFL Executive General Manager Customer, Commercial & Technology Bec Haagsma said the partnership would continue to play a role in supporting major events across the calendar.

“Virgin Australia have been a long-valued partner of the AFL and we are thrilled to extend this partnership and take it to new heights in 2026. With iconic marquee events all over the country throughout the year including AAMI AFL Origin, Opening Round, Gather Round, an expanded Toyota AFL Finals Series, and a growing NAB AFLW competition, this extended partnership with Virgin Australia will connect fans with their teams like never before,” Bec said.

Geelong Cats captain Patrick Dangerfield also welcomed the continuation of the partnership.

“The whole team loves travelling with Virgin Australia. They’re reliable, friendly, and the airline’s Economy X seating is ideal for our team, especially with nearly half of our players being over six foot two!” he said.

Virgin Australia has served as the official airline partner of the AFL since 2011, operating more than 5,000 flights for the league and transporting over 183,000 passengers and 3,600 tonnes of club cargo. The renewed agreement extends the partnership to nearly two decades.