EX-QANTAS EXECUTIVE TO BE VIRGIN BLUE'S NEW BOSS

By Neville D'Cruz

MELBOURNE, March 2 (Bernama) -– Former Qantas Executive General Manager John
Borghetti will take over from Brett Godfrey as Virgin Blue's Chief Executive
from May 8.

"With the company poised to move to its next level, John is the right person now
to lead Virgin Blue through that new phase of evolution," said Virgin Blue
Chairman Neil Chatfield in a statement Tuesday.

Borghetti left Qantas in April last year after losing out to Alan Joyce in the
race to replace Chief Executive Officer Geoff Dixon.

He spent 36 years with Qantas and had been in charge of the airline's domestic
and international operations, where recent innovations included the introduction
of a premium economy class and, cabin and service redesigns for the Airbus A380
superjumbo.

Borghetti will take over at a good time with the budget carrier last week
outscoring Qantas for the first time with a A$62.5 million profit for the
half-year to December.
-- BERNAMA