'Unforgettable': Virgin launches party flight for one night in Melbourne

Dubbed Last Flight Club, the first service departs Sydney for Melbourne at 8.30pm on Thursday, August 7, returning early the next morning "just as the sun is rising" - with late-night experiences, events and establishments able to be booked with the flight.

Details of continuing Last Flight Club schedules and activities will come after launch.

The initiative taps into Melbourne's reputation as Australia's nightlife capital. New Visit Victoria data shows 39 per cent of Australians rate Melbourne as the country's best city for late-night entertainment - ahead of Sydney at 23 per cent.

Travellers can enjoy all-night pubs and clubs such as The Melbourne Supper Club, have a "sleepover" at the Melbourne Museum, check out one of the many live music acts across the city or take a behind-the-scenes gallery tour after hours.

"Whilst other cities are wonderful, they might start winding down at nighttime, whereas we really come to life and particularly in winter," said Shay Keenan, Visit Victoria CMO.

"It's what Melbourne is made for. Whether it's cosying up in a cocktail bar or having a wonderful late-night meal or even exploring our cultural institutions, there's just so much for people to do in Melbourne at night. It's a core part of what makes Melbourne Melbourne."

But she said this was the first time they had done something like this, and praised Virgin for the "very different" initiative.

Virgin Australia CMO Libby Minogue described Last Flight Club as "a bold new way to travel - turning a regular flight into a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to experience the best of Melbourne after dark, all in one unforgettable night".

Asked what gives Melbourne the edge over other cities after dark, Ms Keenan credited locals' enthusiasm for going out year-round - "rugged up, but everywhere" - as well as progressive liquor licensing and opening hours and hospitality innovations that keep the city buzzing into the night.

The round-trip pricing starts at $290. Tickets for the launch flight are now open for registration, and travellers can also expect live entertainment onboard, a private DJ set in the lounge on arrival and free entry to the city's all-night events.

Virgin isn't the only airline wooing night owls and partygoers.

Air New Zealand is courting frustrated Sydney singles with its 30, Flirty and Flying campaign, giving away 30 return economy seats from Sydney to Queenstown to eligible singles.

The airline's General Manager of Australia Kathryn O'Brien said their own research had found that 41 per cent of Sydney locals had "given up" on the local dating scene, 62 per cent are open to meeting someone outside their city, and 87 per cent have had, or are open to, a holiday romance.

The campaign celebrates 30 years of flights between the cities and comes as Air NZ boosts capacity on the Sydney to Queenstown route by 26 per cent for the November 2025-March 2026 season.