Virgin Australia to lease more 737s

[BRIS_VA_HAWK]

At this stage they don’t. Apparently the VA IFE system isn’t compatible with the basic fit out that KLM opted for when the aircraft were built but from what I’ve heard, VA engineering are working to get IFE on them.

Thanks for the update. A little disingenuous to say "it's not working"..although there were more sighs around the forecast delay due to SYD being on single runway operations (which resolved itself by the time we got there).

 

[jrfsp]

Are there any more 737-700s coming? I thought they were meant to get 10 but seems to have stalled at 7

 

[Harrison_133]

Are there any more 737-700s coming? I thought they were meant to get 10 but seems to have stalled at 7

It was only ever 7 737-700s to replace 10 F100s.

 

[jrfsp]

It was only ever 7 737-700s to replace 10 F100s.

Interestingly they also seem to be getting more A320s to replace the F100s whereas the 737-700s seem to be doing lots of east coast flying.

 

[Bagpuss]

Interestingly they also seem to be getting more A320s to replace the F100s whereas the 737-700s seem to be doing lots of east coast flying.

I think the transition from F100 to B737 hasn't gone as they planned.

As a VARA pilot (based in Perth, going back to base nightly), you would probably want to transition to the A320 over the B737. Two key reasons I can think of 1) A320 will remain based in Perth nightly 2) Qantas switching to Airbus domestically.

They are upping the A320's to 180 seats. I think this reflects in part keeping these as work horses on charter flights as a few for the odd PER > Intrastate > Return.

What's happening behind the scenes I think it's aligned with the original planning. I still think VA have to go mixed fleet again at some point until there is a future for the B737 and it's really expected the MAX is end of the line.

 

[Human]

What's happening behind the scenes I think it's aligned with the original planning. I still think VA have to go mixed fleet again at some point until there is a future for the B737 and it's really expected the MAX is end of the line.

I assume the MAX 10s are still expected at some stage? But have the MAX 10s even been certified yet?

 

[ThatMrBlake]

I assume the MAX 10s are still expected at some stage? But have the MAX 10s even been certified yet?

It hasn’t been and there is assumed further delays thanks to the recent Max 9 incident.

 

[Bagpuss]

I assume the MAX 10s are still expected at some stage? But have the MAX 10s even been certified yet?

Yes the MAX 10 is still expected.
No the MAX 10 isn't certified.

My comment is that after the current MAX's there wont be a new B737. (Yes it's far off, but really B737's are work horses.)

If the MAX 10 doesn't happen VA and a lot of others are probably a bit "screwed" and it's off to Airbus.

 

[Saab34]

MAX10 will happen it’s just a matter how long the delay is. I wouldn’t expect it this calendar year, likely 2025 into 2026.

Interestingly they also seem to be getting more A320s to replace the F100s

Where are these A320s coming from?

Outside of the Tiger aircraft, doesn’t appear to be anymore recently added or on order.

 

[henrus]

Interestingly they also seem to be getting more A320s to replace the F100s whereas the 737-700s seem to be doing lots of east coast flying

A320s are much better than the 737s on hot take offs, can carry more and require less runway all of which is important for the Indian Ocean flights and more importantly the mining charters.

 

[MooTime]

I'm always interested in the pros n cos of A320 vs B737, might do a little research out if interest.

Fascinating that peeps here know the intricacies of each metal tube.

 

[BNEFlyer]

Yes the MAX 10 is still expected.
No the MAX 10 isn't certified.

My comment is that after the current MAX's there wont be a new B737. (Yes it's far off, but really B737's are work horses.)

If the MAX 10 doesn't happen VA and a lot of others are probably a bit "screwed" and it's off to Airbus.

UA announced yesterday they have removed the Max 10 from their fleet plan. They had ordered 277 with options for another 200.

 

[ThatMrBlake]

UA announced yesterday they have removed the Max 10 from their fleet plan. They had ordered 277 with options for another 200.

That must hurt UA but it must hurt VA more since it makes up such a big part of forward fleeting planning. At least UA has the a321neo to fall back onto.

 

[Must...Fly!]

UA announced yesterday they have removed the Max 10 from their fleet plan. They had ordered 277 with options for another 200.

They haven't announced that, they've made some noise presumably to get a better deal out of Boeing. May as well screw them down...the price is hardly going to increase.

 

[HS-TQE]

I'd say more likely UA is pushing for a discount from Boeing for the -10s, hence the 'consideration' of a potential cancel.

 

[MooTime]

If UA cancelled 277 MAX-10s that would put VA's delivery of them earlier.

 

[Saab34]

Likely would just be renegotiated, however that can backfire on Virgin if Boeing push all initial slots to key customers like United, Ryanair, Qatar. Ryanair are another really putting the pressure on Boeing at the moment in regard to lack of deliveries.

QR cracked it over the delays to the -8 which meant others had to wait longer as they got earlier slots. All the reworks they had to do on the tail, well QR got all those slots in the first few months alongside Ryanair.

MAX10 is pretty critical to Virgin and its future success, Jetstar will have about 25 A321s before the first Virgin -10 even arrives.

 

[elanshin]

MAX10 is pretty critical to Virgin and its future success, Jetstar will have about 25 A321s before the first Virgin -10 even arrives.

And thats assuming Boeing timeline is remotely accurate.

 

[HS-TQE]

Looks like VH-8IA has made it on a few BNE-DPS rotations last week (before reverting back to the the 738s), ahead of the scheduled change over to the 38Ms at the end of the NW/start of the NS.

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[Dee#]

So sick of it!!! I go regularly Perth to Darwin and when I can finally afford to travel business everywhere, after covid, this route only has economy with Virgin and Qantas. Ive lost my platinum status because of this too.
Ridiculous as most of the NT mining operations have HQs in Perth and go up and down.( Id love to be able to afford an ex jet).
WA is getting shafted. To fly business they offer up via Brisbane or or Melbourne at great expense. But you can actually go via Adelaide, but have to work that out for yourself.
Also no Virgin out of Perth up to Bali unlike Adelaide.
Also I hate the cattle truck A320's.
PS. How on earth are they going to fit dog and cat boxes under the seats with no legroom.