Virgin Australia to buy four Boeing 737 MAX jets for fleet expansion and phase out Fokker F100s.....

Virgin Australia Group has confirmed today that it is going to add four new Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft to its fleet as part of its renewal programme that will also see it phase out Fokker F100 aircraft. The airline says these new 737 MAX 8 aircraft will start to enter service in February next year.

 

Since its re-launch, in November 2020 the Virgin Australia Group issued plans to grow its 737 fleet by over 50%, from 58 to 88 planes. Currently, the airline flies operates a fleet of 10 Fokker F100 aircraft across its operations in Western Australia, these ageing aircraft will be gradually transitioned out and replaced by 737-700s from the first quarter of 2023.  

Virgin Australia CEO Jayne Hrdlicka said the fleet renewal programme is part of a broader growth strategy,  "We are on track to return to 100% of pre-COVID domestic capacity by June this year and expect to well exceed those levels by year’s end, and our resources sector and contract flying in WA is in high demand. This investment in our fleet reflects the increased demand we are experiencing in all parts of Virgin Australia."

A future phase of the carrier's development will see it acquire an additional 25 Boeing 737 MAX 10 aircraft which will transport more passengers for a similar amount of fuel to the current 737 NG aircraft.

Hrdlicka said: "We have a younger average fleet age than other airlines operating in the Australian market and we are in a good position to phase out our older F100 aircraft for more fuel-efficient options.  Equipping our WA operation with more modern and efficient 737 aircraft positions us to grow and to better compete in the resources sector and contract flying market across Australia.  It also enables Virgin Australia to improve fleet utilisation across the Group. 

Existing F100 flight and cabin crew, VARA engineering and support staff and corporate and operations functions will be progressively trained to operate and maintain a 737 NG fleet, both as F100 aircraft are retired and as the airline continues to grow its WA resources sector and contract flying business."  

In addition to its 737 fleet, Virgin Australia Group will also continue to operate Airbus A320 aircraft as part of its resources sector and contract flying operations. 

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