Virgin Australia says it will consult with the community and its staff over plans to recognise Australian Defence Force veterans travelling on its flights.
On Sunday, it was reported Virgin Australia would offer ADF veterans priority boarding and acknowledge them before flights.
They would receive these benefits by showing either a discount card or lapel pin being rolled out to the 300,000 ADF veterans by the federal government. The discount cards and lapel pin initiative was announced by Prime Minister Scott Morrison in late October at the conclusion of the Invictus Games.
“We acknowledge the important contribution veterans have made to keeping our country safe and the role they play in our community,” Virgin Australia chief executive John Borghetti was quoted in News Corp media outlets on Sunday.
“Once the veterans have their cards and lapel pins, they will simply need to present them during the boarding process to be given priority boarding and be recognised on board.”
While the proposed initiative was welcomed by a number of government ministers, it drew criticism from groups such as the Australia Defence Association (ADA). Veterans also took to social media to question the need for such measures.
On Monday, Virgin Australia appeared to backtrack on its plans.
Via its official Twitter account, the airline said it would seek feedback to find the best way to recognise veterans.
“We are very mindful of the response that our announcement about recognising people who have served in defence has had today. It was a gesture genuinely done to pay respects to those who have served our country,” Virgin Australia said.
“Over the coming months, we will consult with community groups and our own team members who have served in defence to determine the best way forward.
“If this process determines that public acknowledgement of their service through optional priority boarding or any announcement is not appropriate, then we will certainly be respectful of that.”
We are very mindful of the response that our announcement about recognising people who have served in defence has had today. It was a gesture genuinely done to pay respects to those who have served our country. 1/3
— Virgin Australia (@VirginAustralia) November 5, 2018
Over the coming months, we will consult with community groups and our own team members who have served in defence to determine the best way forward. 2/3
— Virgin Australia (@VirginAustralia) November 5, 2018
If this process determines that public acknowledgement of their service through optional priority boarding or any announcement is not appropriate, then we will certainly be respectful of that. 3/3
— Virgin Australia (@VirginAustralia) November 5, 2018
Virgin Australia is due to hold its annual general meeting in Brisbane on Thursday.
Qantas said in a statement on its website it would not be offering veterans priority boarding.
“We have utmost respect for current and former defence force personnel, and we honour their service in a few ways during the year, including special announcements on ANZAC Day and Remembrance Day, and through our partnership with the Australian War Memorial,” the Qantas statement said.
“We also have a lot of former Air Force personnel and current defence force reservists working at Qantas.
“We’re conscious that we carry a lot of exceptional people every day, including veterans, police, paramedics, nurses, firefighters and others, and so we find it difficult to single out a particular group as part of the boarding process.”
