Allegations have emerged that Virgin Australia was aware of the dangers faced by its air crew before the alleged rape of a 21-year-old employee in Fiji.
An investigation by the Daily Telegraph revealed that several Virgin staff had raised complaints about the security of the accommodation overnight before the alleged attack on New Year’s Day.
The outlet claimed that staff’s drinks had been tampered with during their stay in Bali and that one crew member drowned near their accommodation in Perth.
Other concerns included alleged insecure job expectations, high demands on new employees and the repeated hiring of young workers.
Virgin Australia said the safety of its staff is a top priority and all incidents have been investigated.
Inside sources claimed that working conditions at the airline began to worsen when it was purchased by private investment firm Bain Capital.
The company went into voluntary administration during the pandemic and cut costs across its operations, including making 3,000 experienced staff redundant in 2020.
Virgin Australia had a staggering $5 billion in debt before the Covid lockdowns and sought to improve its financial situation under its new chief executive, Jayne Hrdlicka.
Several Virgin staff allegedly raised complaints about overnight accommodation security before alleged rape of flight attendant (file image)
Once the airline began rehiring, it offered a starting salary of $45,526, which was criticized as too low for workers with dependents or a mortgage.
The result was a young workforce with many new employees who were in their teens or early twenties. Many still lived at home.
Australian Flight Attendants Association employment relations manager Steven Reed explained the dangers of young aircrew on international flights, which were previously restricted to people over 21.
“What we do notice is the lack of life skills that come with recruiting 18-year-olds, particularly when you send them to hotels overseas and they may have never been outside of Australia before,” he said.
“They don’t have the life skills to distrust certain things.”
The latest allegations come just weeks after a 21-year-old Virgin stewardess was allegedly raped in Fiji by 24-year-old farmer Ilaisa Tanoa Degei.
Degei is alleged to have posed as an unregistered taxi driver, known locally as Pari, and offered to take the young woman to her accommodation at the Tanoa International Hotel.
He had been celebrating New Year’s Eve with other members of the Virgin team at Bar One, in Nadi, but tried to leave after one of his co-workers was allegedly robbed.
Fijian farmer Ilaisa Tanoa Degei (pictured) allegedly raped a 21-year-old Virgin Australia flight attendant on New Year’s Day.
Mr. Degei allegedly raped the flight attendant at around 1 a.m. on January 1. He was charged with one count of sexual assault and one count of rape.
Virgin staff have since raised concerns about the safety of the Tanoa International Hotel, which has been approved by the Australian Flight Attendants Association.
Staff complained about the hotel’s location and lack of nearby amenities.
The hotel, which has a long-standing contract with Virgin, is protected by security guards and security gates.
However, it is alleged that the accommodation did not begin using the measures until after the alleged violation.
Neither Qantas nor Jetstar staff stay at the Tanoa International Hotel.
Transport Workers Union national secretary Michael Kaine said it was vital Virgin prioritized the safety of its crews.
“Virgin and owners Bain Capital must consult closely with cabin crew on areas of concern and take all necessary steps to avoid serious incidents such as this in the future,” he said.
The Telegraph also addressed other alleged incidents involving Virgin Australia staff.
The crew members were allegedly attacked while staying at the Holiday Inn Resort Baruna in Kuta, a popular tourist destination south of Denpasar.
Another worker was allegedly suffocated near the Mercure Hotel in Perth’s CBD, located opposite Perth Magistrates’ Court.
The hotel had previously been denied accommodation for Qantas after the FAAA determined it did not meet standards set out in its enterprise negotiating agreement.
A Virgin Australia spokesperson confirmed staff receive safety training for domestic and international flights.
It has also increased the starting wage for workers to $55,974 and allows them to claim daily paid overtime.
“Safety remains our top priority and we take a thorough and proactive approach to ensure the well-being of our crew when traveling for work, both domestically and internationally,” the spokesperson said.
“All reported security incidents are reviewed immediately and we do not hesitate to implement the necessary changes and controls to ensure our team remains safe.”
Daily Mail Australia has contacted Virgin Australia for additional comment.