Virgin Australia to lease more 737s

[Saab34]

Do they still put the odd 737 on SYD-CBR these days? I recall Virgin 1.0 often did.

 

[Harrison_133]

Do they still put the odd 737 on SYD-CBR these days? I recall Virgin 1.0 often did.

They don’t. Since Link took over it’s been Saabs only.

 

[funnybrus]

On an all-Y 700 now, row 5 (freely selectable within 48h as gold) has the same legroom as economy X in rows 2-4.

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

In relation to Funnbrus's reply, aye, but still, unless a person has VFF status, the all Y does not have access to the VAd lounge.
Or be willing to pay $59 per single entry!

 

[HS-TQE]

Slightly OT: According to social media, VARA will be retaining at least 3x Fokkers until 2025 at the latest. Two lines of flying will be scheduled in 2024 with 1 to be a operational spare.

Back on-topic: NVW, the last of the ex-KLM 700s has been delivered. Leased from Japanese firm Yamasa, which also is the owner of NQY.
Venus Aircraft Leasing are the other owners of the other ex-KLM 700s.

 

[Saab34]

Which means they are wanting to use these -700 on the east coast in the coming years, I figured that would happen, they have got comfortable having these machines on the east coast and don’t want to stop it.

Perhaps they should just order some MAX7s like Southwest has done.

 

[Bagpuss]

Slightly OT: According to social media, VARA will be retaining at least 3x Fokkers until 2025 at the latest. Two lines of flying will be scheduled in 2024 with 1 to be a operational spare.

Back on-topic: NVW, the last of the ex-KLM 700s has been delivered. Leased from Japanese firm Yamasa, which also is the owner of NQY.
Venus Aircraft Leasing are the other owners of the other ex-KLM 700s.

I was speaking to a crew member about the F100’s recently. I forgot to post. Her comment was there was some WA regional airports which can’t handle the -700 so need to use the F100. I think this was previously raised on AFF and the thought may have been to use Alliance. However, as the ACCC blocked the continuance of joint operations this is probably the outcome instead of loosing the contract in the short term.

 

[HS-TQE]

Which means they are wanting to use these -700 on the east coast in the coming years, I figured that would happen, they have got comfortable having these machines on the east coast and don’t want to stop it.

Perhaps they should just order some MAX7s like Southwest has done.

WestJet has some parked (15-17 year old) -600s that VA/VARA could use in WA, as one suggestion.

Considering VARA has reactivated A320 VH-VND from storage in March and returned into service under the VARA certificate, the 600s could also be placed on the VARA cert if VA are interested.

 

[Saab34]

Having 737s on the VARA AOC might be troublesome for the pilot unions .

 

[Bundy Bear]

WestJet has some parked (15-17 year old) -600s that VA/VARA could use in WA, as one suggestion.

Considering VARA has reactivated A320 VH-VND from storage in March and returned into service under the VARA certificate, the 600s could also

I was speaking to a crew member about the F100’s recently. I forgot to post. Her comment was there was some WA regional airports which can’t handle the -700 so need to use the F100. I think this was previously raised on AFF and the thought may have been to use Alliance. However, as the ACCC blocked the continuance of joint operations this is probably the outcome instead of loosing the contract in the short term.

be placed on the VARA cert if VA are interested.

I think the F100 is better than any 737s as its due to the placement of engines being too low to the ground, F100s engines are rear mounted.

 

[jrfsp]

I was speaking to a crew member about the F100’s recently. I forgot to post. Her comment was there was some WA regional airports which can’t handle the -700 so need to use the F100. I think this was previously raised on AFF and the thought may have been to use Alliance. However, as the ACCC blocked the continuance of joint operations this is probably the outcome instead of loosing the contract in the short term.

Can’t think of any….but there might be some where the F100 performs better…

 

[Bagpuss]

Can’t think of any….but there might be some where the F100 performs better…

I’d expect this to be mining sites rather than commercial airports if true.

 

[Must...Fly!]

I think the F100 is better than any 737s as its due to the placement of engines being too low to the ground, F100s engines are rear mounted.

I’d expect this to be mining sites rather than commercial airports if true.

Both correct

 

[Human]

I think the F100 is better than any 737s as its due to the placement of engines being too low to the ground, F100s engines are rear mounted.

The F100s are good to fly in, too ... unless you're sitting at the back. No matter how good your noise-cancelling headphones are, if you're sitting 2 metres from the engine it's going to be very noisy!

 

[AIRwin]

The F100s are good to fly in, too ... unless you're sitting at the back. No matter how good your noise-cancelling headphones are, if you're sitting 2 metres from the engine it's going to be very noisy!

 

[SCM]

Something just occurred to me.

Qantas is going to be retiring a ton of 737ngs over the next few years as replacements come. Why would VA Just buy or lease them for dirt cheap? It's something that would immediately benefit both airlines.

 

[MooTime]

No economy X, no deal.

 

[Bagpuss]

Something just occurred to me.

Qantas is going to be retiring a ton of 737ngs over the next few years as replacements come. Why would VA Just buy or lease them for dirt cheap? It's something that would immediately benefit both airlines.

I would expect Qantas lease at lease some of the lease so it wouldn't be a direct agreement between the two.

From covid times to me it appeared there wasn't much of a market for 737ngs so they could be picked up on the cheap. They would need a repaint and obviously the internal cabin changed.

However, I wouldn't be surprised if i would be more REX who maybe eyeing them off rather than Virgin. I'd expect Virgin to bring in the MAX and as 737ngs were up for lease renewal make a good case to lessors on why to extend leases at cheap prices, no repaint or internal config required.

Obviously, there's merit there and maybe a couple of air frames but I see this as more REX territory but if the demand warrants it, it's shortly an option. So really I think Virgin will need to look into slightly bigger aircraft.

 

[Saab34]

The oldest batch of Qantas 737s are 2000-2003 builds. Seems against what Virgin fleet plans are these days, the -700s from KLM are only early last decade builds.

2000 builds are engineering nightmares.

 

[Harrison_133]

I’d expect this to be mining sites rather than commercial airports if true.

Looking at what’s in the schedule, it appears the VARA Fokkers are being removed from RPT services from the beginning of October. Only the Perth to Onslow route remains, with the odd Newman service thrown in.