Virgin Australia Holdings Ltd's stock surged 5.16% during intraday trading on Thursday, driven by a wave of positive analyst sentiment.

The rally followed an upgrade from Citi to a "buy" rating pre-market, with the brokerage noting that despite anticipating higher fuel costs due to Middle East conflict volatility, the net impact to the company's fiscal 2026 outlook is expected to be minimal thanks to high levels of fuel hedging.

Further bullish commentary supported the move. Analysts at UBS maintained a "buy" rating, highlighting expectations for stronger revenue growth per seat kilometer, while Jarden praised the carrier's rational response to fuel cost uncertainty through capacity and pricing management, also maintaining a positive rating. The collective optimism from major brokerages provided a clear catalyst for the share price appreciation.