Virgin Australia to lease more 737s

[Harrison_133]

Do these A320s still carry the Tiger interior (180Y?)

I note the last two just added to the fleet last month are not that old.

Looking at the seat maps for the flights VKQ & VNR have operated, 30 rows are showing. So yes, appears they still have the 180Y configuration unlike the other ex Tiger machines.

 

[Astro]

IXJ is still flying around with the fluoro Y seats. I wonder how far off the new interior is?

I have somehow managed to fly on this bird 4 times in just over 4 weeks. Out of MEL, BNK and OOL.

 

[Harrison_133]

On the additional 737-700s, they’ve started to load -700 flying out of Perth into the schedules. Was just looking at the PER-LST direct flights in January and noticed the -700 was operating the flights, and they’re appearing on other Perth routes too.

The seat map for PERLST shows an all Economy layout with 23 rows, so 138 seats total. Rows 1-5 are Economy X, as well as the emergency exit (Row 11).

 

[HS-TQE]

Apparently speculation (elsewhere) that VARA may be making a return to some intra-Qld routes on the -700s, either to replace the remaining Alliance flying or compliment some routes that currently has wetleased Airnorth E190s or E170s on some services.

 

[milehighclub]

Virgin are also applying to CASA to reduce the crew compliment on the 737-700 down to 3.

 

[Harrison_133]

Apparently speculation (elsewhere) that VARA may be making a return to some intra-Qld routes on the -700s,

Looking at a random week in January, the all economy -700s appear on BNE-ADL/CNS/HTI/HBA/LST/PPP/TSV.

 

[Saab34]

I hope they replace the seats, the KLM -700 seats are not that great. A uniform Economy seat would be great across the fleet unlike a KLM Version, Virgin leather standard, old Pacific blue leather, Silkair, new seat prototype, Tiger seats, and the half dozen odd A320 varieties that exist.

 

[HS-TQE]

The arrival of the 700s seems to be timed with the VAi 737 expansion.

Assumedly the VAi registered 738s still being rotated on the VAd network are freed up for the increased VAi Pacific Islands/Bali flying from the start of 2023.

 

[Harrison_133]

4 737 MAX 8’s also arriving in February next year.

An additional 4 737 MAX 8’s ordered, for a total of 8. Plus a simulator added to Perth.

Virgin Australia expands Boeing 737 MAX 8 fleet and secures access to full-flight simulator in Perth

 

[HS-TQE]

PER simulator must be timed in line with the upcoming PER 737-700 base.

 

[HS-TQE]

73G: OE-IBZ (ex KLM's PH-BGR) has been flown from KUN via MCT to Singapore-Seletar for preparations and handover from Avolon (lessor) to VA.

This will be the first of the all-Y 700s.

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[AustraliaPoochie]

I deem it they are going really elcheapo.
Good for some who like all Y, and there is always still the option to buy a VA comfort seat booking, or go with econX, but still, sometimes its nice to fly in a J cabin for once.

 

[HS-TQE]

I deem it they are going really elcheapo.
Good for some who like all Y, and there is always still the option to buy a VA comfort seat booking, or go with econX, but still, sometimes its nice to fly in a J cabin for once.

Likely to be based in PER or Queensland.

Going by reports earlier, looks like it'll be undergoing repainting and fitout in Seletar. I would assume it'll be flying to PER from there (if not BNE), as most of the 73Gs are PER based, with the exception of a few based in Queensland to replace what is assumably the current Alliance F100 flying.

 

[Harrison_133]

undergoing repainting and fitout in Seletar.

Saw an Instagram post, it was repainted in Kaunas. It’s in the current VA livery, not the rumoured new livery. And from reading elsewhere, as they’ll be registered to the VAA (not VARA) AOC, they’ll most likely go to Brisbane first.

exception of a few based in Queensland to replace what is assumably the current Alliance F100 flying.

Again, they’re not replacing any of the Alliance flying. Not yet at least.

 

[HS-TQE]

Saw an Instagram post, it was repainted in Kaunas. It’s in the current VA livery, not the rumoured new livery. And from reading elsewhere, as they’ll be registered to the VAA (not VARA) AOC, they’ll most likely go to Brisbane first.

Again, they’re not replacing any of the Alliance flying. Not yet at least.

Considering the rumoured reports that VA are looking at merging the VAA/VARA/VAi AOCs into the single one AOC, I wouldn't rule out a positioning to PER.

 

[Harrison_133]

Considering the rumoured reports that VA are looking at merging the VAA/VARA/VAi AOCs into the single one AOC, I wouldn't rule out a positioning to PER.

They’re not merging anything because the new 700s will be put straight onto the VAA certificate. They won't touch the VARA AOC so there is nothing to merge.

As for VAI, I think you’re mistaken. They need the VAI AOC to operate certain international routes, specifically Bali. VAI won’t be going away.

 

[twinaisle]

They’re not merging anything because the new 700s will be put straight onto the VAA certificate. They won't touch the VARA AOC so there is nothing to merge.

As for VAI, I think you’re mistaken. They need the VAI AOC to operate certain international routes, specifically Bali. VAI won’t be going away.

 

[Saab34]

A320s would still be connected to VARA AOC.

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

A320s would still be connected to VARA AOC.

Would be great if they decide to take out the first few rows of seats in the front and put in J seats.
Or at the least have empty seats with seat blocking up front, ala AirNZ's worksdeluxe.
I would certainly pay to use those, seeing that there are no other choices, some days/most days ADL - PER, if wanting to fly VA, except to accept seating in sardine can Y on the VARA A320.

 

[HS-TQE]

Would be great if they decide to take out the first few rows of seats in the front and put in J seats.
Or at the least have empty seats with seat blocking up front, ala AirNZ's worksdeluxe.
I would certainly pay to use those, seeing that there are no other choices, some days/most days ADL - PER, if wanting to fly VA, except to accept seating in sardine can Y on the VARA A320.

A320s is mostly used on WA FIFO work. The same assumption would go for the 73Gs being based in PER to replace the F100s.

The most VA can do is put a divider in the middle for Economy X similar to Euro J if they're using the all-Y configured A320s and 73Gs for RPT work inbetween FIFO jobs.