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Former Virgin Australia chief executive Jayne Hrdlicka has taken home almost $50 million from her final year at the airline.
Hrdlicka, who left the airline in March after announcing her departure early last year, received a total remuneration of $49,858,000 for the 2024–25 financial year. She is set to commence as chief executive of retail and hospitality giant Endeavour Group in January.
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In Virgin Australia’s annual report, the airline highlighted Hrdlicka’s achievements over her five years at the helm, including setting it on course for its IPO in June, which was ultimately led by new chief executive Dave Emerson.
“During her tenure, Jayne successfully led the Group’s exit from voluntary administration, stand up of the airline following the COVID-19 pandemic and the transformation of Virgin Australia into a profitable and sustainable business,” the report read.
“In addition, during FY25 Jayne led Virgin Australia’s deeper strategic partnership with the Qatar Airways Group, including a 25 per cent equity investment and enhanced strategic alliance.”
The TWU has congratulated Virgin, with national secretary Michael Kaine saying the annual report is “encouraging sign of the future of a strong airline”, but questioned Hrdlicka’s payout.
According to the union, Hrdlicka’s remuneration will “bear significant weight when it comes to discussions on fatigue management, rostering and pay ahead of 2026 bargaining with pilots, ground and cabin crew”.
“What is eye-watering to the average aviation worker as well as the Australian public is the near $50 million pay packet now handed out to former CEO Jayne Hrdlicka,” Kaine said.
“We cannot continue to see CEOs and executives in aviation pocket obscene salaries while the industry is at breaking point.
“With bargaining across the group upcoming over the next year, it is crucial Virgin continues to listen to the people who have turned this airline around. What is crystal clear is that if the airline can hand out exorbitant pay packets to executives it can ensure its workers have good, secure jobs.”
In its first annual results since returning to the ASX, Virgin achieved an underlying net profit after tax of $331 million in the 2025 financial year, up 27.8 per cent on 2024, and a statutory net profit after tax of $479 million, down 12.3 per cent. The airline brought in $5.8 billion in revenue, up 8.5 per cent on 2024.
Virgin also this year marked its silver anniversary, with 25 years since its first flight as Virgin Blue in 2000.
