Virgin Blue has adopted a ‘Redundancy Refund’ policy for travellers who have suffered involuntary redundancy in the current economic climate.

The airline indicated that the Redundancy Refund promise has been put together ‘to make life a little easier for guests who have lost their jobs’.

It is primarily aimed at consumers who have future flights booked with Virgin Blue, Pacific Blue, Polynesian Blue or V Australia but don’t wish to use their tickets or are ‘financially unable’.

Virgin Blue chief executive, Brett Godfrey, said, “We’re aware of the impact the current economic situation can have and some among our team suggested we review our refund policy in the current environment. Extraordinary circumstances call for extraordinary measures and we wanted to assist those who have been unexpectedly impacted by the loss of their job by relaxing our standard policy.”

Though there are a conditions – travellers who wish to apply for the refund must have been made involuntarily redundant from a full time role after 19 June 2009 and provide a letter from their employer confirming the redundancy details.

They must make an application for a refund within 30 days of the involuntary redundancy taking affect and it must be least 14 days before the date of departure.

Virgin Blue indicated that if the applicants satisfy all the requirements, it could be processed within five working days.