Owner Bain Capital said Monday (January 16) that it was looking to re-list the carrier.

The U.S. private equity firm acquired Australia's second biggest airline in 2020 for close to $2.5 billion.

Virgin had gone into voluntary administration after a string of losses.

It had been losing money even before the global health crisis decimated air travel.

Aviation market conditions have since improved in a big way.

That after Australia's international and state borders reopened.

Rival Qantas is expected to see a sharp return to profitability as travel resumes.

Now Bain says it's seeking advice on how to return Virgin to the Australian Securities Exchange.

But it says no decision has been made on when or whether an IPO will take place.

If there is a share sale, it's likely to be one of Australia's biggest this year.

Capital markets activity in the country plummeted last year amid global financial uncertainty.