Virgin Australia will start codeshare flights to Hong Kong on Virgin Atlantic aircraft from early next year.

The flights will be sold under Virgin Australia's long-haul international airline V Australia codes.

Passengers will earn frequent flyer points and status credits at Virgin Australia rates and get access to Virgin Atlantic's swanky Hong Kong Clubhouse lounge.

The service runs daily out of Sydney and Hong Kong on A340-600 aircraft and features Virgin Atlantic's Upper Class, Premium Economy and Economy classes.

"This agreement compliments our existing global alliance strategy, providing a new codeshare destination for our guests and further strengthens our new frequent flyer program launched today", says Virgin Australia CEO John Borghetti.

The Virgin Atlantic flights to Hong Kong depart from Sydney Interna tional Airport daily at 2:25 p.m.

Of course, competition for the Sydney to Hong Kong route is fierce, with Cathay Pacific's new premium economy to appear first on the route.