Virgin Australia Takes Off on the ASX Once Again

After nearly four years on the ground, Virgin Australia has made its return to the Australian sharemarket (ASX)

The airline officially re-listed on the ASX on Tuesday, marking a major milestone since it collapsed into voluntary administration during the early days of the pandemic. Back then, in 2020, Virgin was weighed down by billions in debt and fierce competition. Fast forward to 2025, and it’s a much leaner, more focused operation, now back in the hands of public investors.

Virgin’s comeback IPO valued the airline at around $2.5 billion, with private equity giant Bain Capital still holding a majority stake. Shares were offered at $2.25 each, and while trading opened with a small dip, the overall mood was optimistic, with many seeing it as a strong vote of confidence in the airline’s turnaround.

Since being bought by Bain in 2020, Virgin has tightened its business model, focusing squarely on domestic travel and ditching its ultra-competitive international routes. It’s also rebuilt its balance sheet and returned to profitability.

For everyday Australians – especially loyal Velocity members – it’s a chance to back a homegrown airline that’s survived some serious turbulence. And for the broader market, Virgin’s return is a sign that confidence is slowly returning to the aviation sector.