Virgin Australia announces US-style plan to honour veterans on every flight

A new campaign being driven by News Corp Australia – and which has been backed by the prime minister, Scott Morrison – aims to recognise veterans and their service using newspapers and Foxtel in association with select corporations. Sunday Virgin announced it would join forces with News and acknowledge defence force veterans on its flights before take-off. It also plans to offer priority boarding but has stopped short of offering discount fares. In the US, airlines which ask passengers to stand and applaud servicemen on board their aircraft and to offer a “Thank you for your service”. Australia’s veterans affairs minister, Darren Chester, welcomed the Virgin announcement, but acknowledged many veterans would sooner embrace discounted airfares. <br/>