Australia airline Virgin launched its maiden Brisbane flight to Los Angeles on Wednesday.

"Today we launch direct services from Brisbane to the U.S. and it presents a great opportunity for Queensland. We can lure more Americans out to enjoy our little piece of paradise that is Queensland," V Australia executive general manager Scott Swift said in a statement.

Former Queensland premier and L.A.-based trade commissioner Peter Beattie was in Brisbane to support the launch and said it was important to keep the economy rolling to capture a market that would grow in the future.

"If you've got reasonably-priced business fares and you've got direct flights they will come," Beattie said.

V Australia is a long-haul, full-service airline, which has become latest addition to the Virgin Blue Group.

(Xinhua News Agency April 8, 2009)