Virgin Australia (VA, Brisbane International) has ferried its first B737-8 to Australia ahead of it commencing revenue operations in July. VH-8IA (msn 65045) departed Seattle Boeing Field on June 28 and landed in Brisbane on June 30 after pitstops in Kona and Nadi.
The first of eight B737-8s the Australian carrier has on order from Boeing (BOE, Washington National), VH-8IA comes on lease from CALC and will deploy onto the new Cairns - IATA!HDA route later in July after performing some limited domestic revenue flights. Virgin Australia is the second Australia-based operator of the MAX 8, being pipped by Bonza (AB, Sunshine Coast), which commenced flights earlier this year using the aircraft type.
"These new aircraft will allow us to grow capacity and support more efficient jet services,” said Virgin Australia COO Stuart Aggs via a media statement. Virgin Australia expects its second B787-8 to be delivered in August and is aiming for five to six deliveries by the end of 2023, and all eight by the end of 1Q 2024.
Since being relaunched under new ownership in late 2020, Virgin Australia has steadily rebuilt its fleet from 58 to 84 aircraft, mostly B737-800s, but also several B737-700s. In addition to the eight incoming B737-8s, the airline also has an order for twenty-five B737-10s, with deliveries due to start in 2024.
Meanwhile, competitor Rex - Regional Express (ZL, Wagga Wagga) has pushed back the arrival of its eighth B737-800 from late June to July, while the ninth is now due in August. These two aircraft are former Singapore Airlines (SQ, Singapore Changi) stock and remain in Singapore but will be used to boost capacity on Rex's existing B737-800 routes as well as helping service new routes to Adelaide International and Hobart International.
