Brisbane to LA is the second route for Virgin Blue's V Australia international airline, which will also fly between Sydney and LA from December 15 this year.

The Brisbane service, which will fly on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays, will offer a return economy flight for $2,087, which the airline says is 17% lower than the current lowest available fare.

It could also bring up to 3,000 US tourists to Brisbane each week.

The announcement will be welcome news for the tourism industry, which is reeling from last month's decision by Qantas and Jetstar to cut domestic and international services to offset rising fuel costs.

The downturn prompted the state government to give the industry a $4 million boost.

But V Australia executive general manager Scott Swift said Queensland was an attractive opportunity for expansion.

"While Sydney-Los Angeles is currently the busiest trans-Pacific route in terms of passenger numbers, we thought long and hard where to direct our third Boeing 777 aircraft," Mr Swift said at the launch in Brisbane today (July 4).

"The obvious appeal of our home state, Queensland, and the fact there is only one airline operating on the route was just too tempting, as we've always been attracted to routes that need real competition."

Mr Swift said the airline also wanted to capitalise on Queensland's popularity with US tourists.

"With direct flights, American tourists can land here, enjoy Brisbane, the Gold Coast and great south-east, before jumping on a Virgin Blue domestic flight and checking our some of the other hot spots in Queensland, such as Cairns and the Whitsunday coast."
Source: Sydney Morning Herald