Virgin Australia B737 Max 8

[MarkD]

Would be great if they just cancelled it and went 20 A321Ns, I wouldn’t rule anything out.

That would be fantastic, but sadly, not going to happen. I much prefer the A320NEO to the 737. The max however closes the gap a bit, but still, the A320/21 NEO feel more spacious, quieter and more comfortable generally. They are not going to get a completely different subfleet though.

 

[AIRwin]

MAX #4 has been handed over to VA. Heads to Florida today for wifi installation before coming to Australia.

For a moment I thought it had already arrived in MEL but it's in MLB instead

 

[andrewpf]

I know its maybe a bit foolish and overwrought, but I am really considering shifting my points focus from Virgin to Qantas so I can avoid the Max completely.

 

[ben95]

They are not going to get a completely different subfleet though.

We say that but VARA still operates 4 Fokker and 7 A320 on top of the 737-700s (technically registered to VAd AOC and flown by VAd crew?). The Fokker will be replaced by a small fleet of either A220 or E190 and the A320 looks like will stick around for a bit.

If VARA can sustain 7 A320 and 4 A220/E190, why can’t VA mainline maintain a sub-fleet of 25 A321s? Surely at some point the Boeing problems are going to tip the scale enough to justify a A321 fleet.

 

[Saab34]

A321 introduction now would be perfect as 2040 onwards they need to start exiting the 737 completely and move to whatever Boeing invents next, or preferably, slowly transition to whatever Airbus replaces the A320 series with, I’d much rather see VA transition over to Airbus in the longer term.

I think it’s very unlikely, but like many, I would be hopeful.

 

[Digicola]

A321 introduction now would be perfect as 2040 onwards they need to start exiting the 737 completely and move to whatever Boeing invents next, or preferably, slowly transition to whatever Airbus replaces the A320 series with, I’d much rather see VA transition over to Airbus in the longer term.

I think it’s very unlikely, but like many, I would be hopeful.

The Airbus ship has sailed long ago. Order books are full for the next half decade at least and VA isn’t the kind of customer AB would bend over backwards to win over (a la UA).

I’m still convinced A321neos on triangle and transcons with LR/XLRs for SHI would have suited VA well and covered their basis for network growth well into the foreseeable future.

 

[BNEFlyer]

I know its maybe a bit foolish and overwrought, but I am really considering shifting my points focus from Virgin to Qantas so I can avoid the Max completely.

You do you but that makes no sense.

 

[drron]

Well our first Max 8 flight had the required 1 takeoff and 1 landing so no worries. Would hate it on a HND flight in J. Not much recline.

 

[antycbr]

Well our first Max 8 flight had the required 1 takeoff and 1 landing so no worries. Would hate it on a HND flight in J. Not much recline.

That’s a choice VA has made regarding seats, nothing to do with airworthiness. SQ have flatbed J in their Max aircraft, which I will be flying from HAN-SIN later this year.

 

[Tom/PER]

We say that but VARA still operates 4 Fokker and 7 A320 on top of the 737-700s (technically registered to VAd AOC and flown by VAd crew?). The Fokker will be replaced by a small fleet of either A220 or E190 and the A320 looks like will stick around for a bit.

If VARA can sustain 7 A320 and 4 A220/E190, why can’t VA mainline maintain a sub-fleet of 25 A321s? Surely at some point the Boeing problems are going to tip the scale enough to justify a A321 fleet.

Smart money would be on following in QF/NWK’s footsteps and acquiring some midlife A319’s and working with the mining companies to have their strips upgraded for the ones that are currently only suited for F100’s.

When I say midlife, I don’t mean end of life scrappers like QF/NWK has invested in.

 

[ThatMrBlake]

Not a shock with Boeings woes but Virgin has confirmed delays to the Max orders. Only another 4 Max-8s due this year after 8ID, and MAX10s now from FY26.

Boeing crisis delivers another blow to Virgin

A Boeing aircraft delivery blowout is the latest setback for Virgin, which has been grappling with poor on-time performance and above-average flight cancellation rates.

www.smh.com.au

 

[twinaisle]

Not a shock with Boeings woes but Virgin has confirmed delays to the Max orders. Only another 4 Max-8s due this year after 8ID, and MAX10s now from FY26.

Boeing crisis delivers another blow to Virgin

A Boeing aircraft delivery blowout is the latest setback for Virgin, which has been grappling with poor on-time performance and above-average flight cancellation rates.

www.smh.com.au

There goes all the routes they wanted to launch

 

[HS-TQE]

Not a shock with Boeings woes but Virgin has confirmed delays to the Max orders. Only another 4 Max-8s due this year after 8ID, and MAX10s now from FY26.

Boeing crisis delivers another blow to Virgin

A Boeing aircraft delivery blowout is the latest setback for Virgin, which has been grappling with poor on-time performance and above-average flight cancellation rates.

www.smh.com.au

What happened to those 4 extra 737-8s (IIRC which was from the lessor) on top of the original 8?

 

[ThatMrBlake]

What happened to those 4 extra 737-8s (IIRC which was from the lessor) on top of the original 8?

According to the article another six 737-8s now due in 2025 finishing the total order for that variant.

 

[Harrison_133]

What happened to those 4 extra 737-8s (IIRC which was from the lessor) on top of the original 8?

There was 6 additional 737-8s ordered on top of the original 8. Those 6 are the ones pushed back until 2025.

 

[Saab34]

They would be wise to probably secure some mid life -700s in the meantime, it’s clear it’s going to be slow going over the coming years. They have some aged aircraft that will likely need to come off ops soon also.

Really puts VA in a tough spot when it comes to growth and market share. Jetstar will be 20 A321Ns by the years end. That MAX10 could be 3-4 years away. Meanwhile its main competitor will have half its fleet as A321Neo, both at the low cost and full service level, by then.

Western Sydney will need at least half dozen aircraft from the get go. VA are about to get caught out me thinks with lack of fleet.

 

[SCM]

Western Sydney will need at least half dozen aircraft from the get go. VA are about to get caught out me thinks with lack of fleet.

WSI will be a bogan budget airport anyway, it will only be served by Jetstar.

I agree the VA aircraft situation is not great, but what can you do. It's a short-term problem in the grand scheme of things anyway.

 

[HS-TQE]

WSI will be a bogan budget airport anyway, it will only be served by Jetstar.

I agree the VA aircraft situation is not great, but what can you do. It's a short-term problem in the grand scheme of things anyway.

QF and VA had already confirmed there would be some flights operating out of WSI (to MEL and BNE, possibly other capitals).

QF has also stated they'll be basing 5 aircraft (assumably 737s).

https://www.qantasnewsroom.com.au/media-releases/national-carrier-to-land-in-western-sydney/

 

[jase05]

WSI will be a bogan budget airport anyway, it will only be served by Jetstar.

I agree the VA aircraft situation is not great, but what can you do. It's a short-term problem in the grand scheme of things anyway.

WSI will be a game changer. Eventually all the big guns will be out there and it will be the biggest and busiest airport in Australia eventually IMO

 

[Saab34]

Is forecasted to overtake Mascot later on this century, however do expect all players to fight for market share from the get go.

5 737s to match QF would seem logical.