Virgin Australia B737 Max 8

[henrus]

You mean row 5?

Ah yep my mistake row 5 not row 6.

 

[AIRwin]

If they do intend to use a 737-8 then I'd expect that to update sooner rather then later.

Mine is still 2 months away but I do know a friend who happens to be booked on a B737-8 next week so I just tried a dummy booking and it's also showing 30 rows

 

[henrus]

Mine is still 2 months away but I do know a friend who happens to be booked on a B737-8 next week so I just tried a dummy booking and it's also showing 30 rows

I wonder if on some routes they're keeping it at 30 rows just in case they need to make a last minute swap to a 737-800?

 

[AIRwin]

I wonder if on some routes they're keeping it at 30 rows just in case they need to make a last minute swap to a 737-800?

I'll keep a lookout and report back next week

 

[Harrison_133]

Speaking at the CAPA Airline Leader Summit today, Jayne Hrdlicka said that Virgin Australia has converted orders for 12 Boeing 737 MAX 10s to MAX 8s to "ensure a steady pipeline of aircraft coming into our business."

 

[jrfsp]

Speaking at the CAPA Airline Leader Summit today, Jayne Hrdlicka said that Virgin Australia has converted orders for 12 Boeing 737 MAX 10s to MAX 8s to "ensure a steady pipeline of aircraft coming into our business."

Hopefully they wont come to regret this in time when QF are upgauging to the A321 and offering greater seat capacity and cost benefit.

 

[HS-TQE]

Would've thought JH would be looking at more 2nd-hand 738NGs as well (namely the MI/SQ units gradually coming off lease at SQ over the next 12 months)

 

[twinaisle]

Would've thought JH would be looking at more 2nd-hand 738NGs as well (namely the MI/SQ units gradually coming off lease at SQ over the next 12 months)

$$$$$$$$

 

[Harrison_133]

Hopefully they wont come to regret this in time when QF are upgauging to the A321 and offering greater seat capacity and cost benefit.

Hrdlicka did mention they still have options for more MAX-10s.

 

[ben95]

12 Boeing 737 MAX 10s to MAX 8s to "ensure a steady pipeline of aircraft coming into our business."

Why not the MAX 9 I guess? It's what UA did and it's only a 10 seat difference compared to the MAX 10.

 

[MarkD]

Why not the MAX 9 I guess? It's what UA did and it's only a 10 seat difference compared to the MAX 10.

Would the range of the 9 be restrictive for some routes ie; bali? Dont know that is why I ask

 

[justinbrett]

What a terrible headline. I actually thought they were buying Q400s when I saw this.

Virgin Australia to refit Dash 8 and acquire Rex aircraft following Boeing delays - Travel Weekly

Departing Virgin Australia CEO Jane Hrdlicka announces refit of its existing MAX Dash 8 and acquiring REX aircraft as Boeing delays continue.

travelweekly.com.au

 

[Saab34]

The lessors who are supplying Virgin with these MAX aircraft will have financial commitments also, so continued delays won’t help, especially when we are talking 3/4 year delays.

The MAX9 is a good question and it would be great to get an answer around that. Certainly popular on USA Domestic, the lower seat density with the -8 is causing market share issues for Virgin which JQ adding considerable A321s to the fleet.

 

[ben95]

Would the range of the 9 be restrictive for some routes ie; bali? Dont know that is why I ask

No. The MAX 9 would have the same range as the MAX 8, and the MAX 10 actually have less range than the MAX 8 / 9.

Virgin which JQ adding considerable A321s to the fleet.

The A321neo wins hands down in terms of spec that’s pretty clear. Although in terms of capacity the MAX 9 is about 2 rows shorter than then MAX 10.

I guess VA is still hesitant in introducing a 3rd type of subfleet given they expect to eventually still get the MAX 10. Certainly have to be a bit more conscious on route planning because they don’t have the same capacity and an aircraft swap on a full flight would mean IDB for the 12 pax.

 

[justinbrett]

No. The MAX 9 would have the same range as the MAX 8, and the MAX 10 actually have less range than the MAX 8 / 9.

737-9 has a shorter range than -8.

737 MAX

www.boeing.com

All max variants have the same wings and engines; so as the aircraft gets longer, it gets heavier, thus shorter range (even with the same payload).

 

[Saab34]

I see, -9 might have issues on the longer runs, fleet swap outs will obviously become a problem, alongside the extra turn time, crewing also.

However for the purpose of carrying high density domestic pax around the triangle, MAX9 surely is ahead of any MAX8.

 

[Harrison_133]

However for the purpose of carrying high density domestic pax around the triangle, MAX9 surely is ahead of any MAX8.

The problem is the MAX9 doesn’t increase seating capacity all that much. Comparing MAX8 to MAX9 at other operators: United is an extra 13 seats, Aeromexico 15 and Alaska 19. The MAX10 will be even more of a step up from the MAX8.

We also need to remember that Virgin’s cabins are dense. Using the specifications on the Boeing website, the typical seating configuration for a MAX9 in a 2-class layout is 178-193 seats.

We can probably assume any larger variant at Virgin will be at the high end of that spec (if not higher), so as a step up from the MAX8 at 182 seats, the MAX9 is only bringing in 11 extra seats at least.

For comparison, the specifications for the MAX10 in a 2-class layout is 188-204 seats, or 22 extra seats at least compared to Virgin’s MAX8 layout. Given Virgin's configurations on either variant would be dense and will most likely require an extra flight attendant, I'd say the increase in seats from MAX8 to MAX10 is needed to justify it.

 

[drron]

Well I had the Max on both the MCY-SYD and return legs of our recent trip. I don’t pay attention to which plane it is but the MCY-SYD was a newer Max without WiFi and divider It was a late booking so I paid for the most upfront seat a red member could get at the base price. 12C,D.
That flight got me to silver. I was pleasantly surprised on the return that we were moved up to 6C,D when we did online check in to 6C,D at no extra cost. The plane had WiFi and a divider between J and Y.

 

[Harrison_133]

Well I had the Max on both the MCY-SYD and return legs of our recent trip. I don’t pay attention to which plane it is but the MCY-SYD was a newer Max without WiFi and divider It was a late booking so I paid for the most upfront seat a red member could get at the base price. 12C,D.
That flight got me to silver. I was pleasantly surprised on the return that we were moved up to 6C,D when we did online check in to 6C,D at no extra cost. The plane had WiFi and a divider between J and Y.

You would have been on the reconfigured 737-800. The VA MAXs haven't operated into to MCY.

 

[AIRwin]

I wonder if on some routes they're keeping it at 30 rows just in case they need to make a last minute swap to a 737-800?

My friend's flight this week ended up being swapped to a 737-800 but my booking on a B737-8 in November is still showing 30 rows