CarTrawaler, the leading Business-to-Business technology provider of car rental solutions to the global travel industry, has announced a new car rental partnership with Virgin Australia. This collaboration marks another major airline partnership launch for CarTrawler and represents a significant step in further enhancing the travel experience for Virgin Australia customers. Virgin Australia, one of Australia’s largest and most loved airlines, is headquartered in Brisbane, Queensland, and operates a comprehensive network of domestic and short-haul international flights. Known for its award-winning service and great value, Virgin Australia flew over 19.2 million passengers in 2024, and its loyalty program, Velocity Frequent Flyer, recently surpassed 13 million members. Through this new partnership, CarTrawler will provide Virgin Australia’s customers with a seamless car rental booking experience at competitive rates, offering access to a wide range of vehicles from top car rental providers, including Europcar, Hertz, Dollar, Thrifty, and Sixt. Velocity Frequent Flyer members will also benefit from the opportunity to earn and redeem Velocity Points on car rentals, enhancing the travel rewards experience for millions.
This partnership also marks the return of another major airline to the CarTrawler platform, with Virgin Australia rejoining, following Jet2 and Finnair in re-establishing their partnerships with CarTrawler in recent months. They now form part of CarTrawler’s extensive global network of airlines and travel providers, which includes American Airlines, Jet2 and Jet2holidays, Air France-KLM, Wizz Air, United Airlines, easyJet, Uber, and Emirates.
Commenting on the announcement, the Chief Commercial Officer at CarTrawler, Aileen McCormack said, “We are thrilled to be Virgin Australia’s exclusive car rental partner. Virgin Australia is an amazing airline, and their dedicated focus on customer service will be reflected in the unique car rental proposition we will provide to their customers, giving them unparalleled choice and convenience. We are proud of our continued 100% success rate in securing partnerships with the world’s leading global airlines, which underscores the trust and value travel brands place in our technology and teams. We look forward to building a successful and long-lasting relationship with Virgin Australia.”
Also commenting was the Velocity Frequent Flyer Chief Executive Officer, Nick Rohrlach is thrilled to have CarTrawler on board as a partner, offering immense value for the program’s members, “Velocity Frequent Flyer is always looking for new ways to enhance the travel experience for its members. This partnership with CarTrawler offers exceptional value and choice, allowing members to earn and redeem Points seamlessly when booking a car rental. From airport to the aeroplanes, we know how important reliable service is for our members. We are proud to be partnering with CarTrawler to take care of their travel needs on the ground while we take care of them in the air.”
Virgin Australia’s loyalty program, Velocity Frequent Flyer, boasts more than 13 million members who can earn Velocity Points and use their Points for flights to over 600 destinations around the world with Virgin Australia and the airline’s extensive list of global airline partners. Founded in the Year 2000 by Sir Richard Branson, Virgin Australia is now one of the largest Australian airlines operating an extensive domestic network as well as short-haul international services, charter, and cargo operations. Virgin Australia Group employs more than 8,000 people and has been a competitor in the Australian aviation landscape for 25 years.
