Virgin Australia Regional (VA, Perth International) is to dispose of its fleet of eight Fokker 50s parent Virgin Australia (VA, Brisbane International) has announced. The decision was taken after a review of the type's future commercial market prospects which, Virgin Australia said, were bleak. As such, the Fokker Aircraft (Woensdrecht) turboprops will be sold off during the first half of next year.

Instead, the carrier says it will make up for the lost capacity by adding four Fokker 100s and an A320-200 - its third.

According to the ch-aviation aircraft database, Virgin Australia Regional employs its Fokker 50 fleet on a mixture of regular as well as charter contract flights connecting Albany, WA, Esperance, Geraldton, WA, Ravensthorpe with Perth International, Emerald and Miles with Brisbane International, and Carnarvon and Geraldton, WA with Paraburdoo.

Formerly Skywest Airlines (Australia) (Perth International), Virgin Australia Regional also operates fourteen Fokker 100s and fourteen ATR72-500/600s.