FORMER Virgin Australia CEO Jayne Hrdlicka earned a salary of $28.47 million for 2025, marking a huge increase on the $2.75 million earned by the aviation executive last year.
Hrdlicka’s annual pay cheque was revealed in Virgin Australia’s annual report released this morning, and combined with shares, saw the former chief walk away with over $50 million.
The former CEO received cash payments of around $20 million, $18.4 million of which were the result of short-term incentives, while her 10.244 million shares she was granted as part of an equity plan in 2021, which are now worth around $33 million.
During her four-plus years in charge, Hrdlicka steered the carrier out of voluntary administration.
Meanwhile, Virgin Australia’s new CEO Dave Emerson will take home $2.48 million in 2025, CFO Race Strauss will pocket $4.82 million, and Velocity Frequent Flyer CEO Nick Rohrlach will earn $4.41 million.
Looking at the carrier’s overall financial results, it achieved $5.81 billion – up 3% on FY24 – while its statutory net profile after tax was down 12%.
Other key highlights included an underlying EBIT of $664 million, signalling a 28% increase on the previous financial year, and an FY25 gross benefit of $450 million resulting from Virgin Australia’s Transformation Program, which began after its restructuring in 2020.
