Virgin Australia to reintroduce 10 Boeing 737-800s, plans to operate 80% of pre-COVID capacity

15 April, 2021

Virgin Australia announced (15-Apr-2021) the following amendments to its fleet and the carrier's growth plans:

  • Reintroduction of 10 additional Boeing 737-800s, "with further aircraft under investigation". An initial three aircraft are scheduled to be delivered in Apr-2021, with the remainder scheduled to progressively enter service by Oct-2021;
  • Planned return of more than 80% of the carrier's pre-coronavirus domestic capacity by mid Jun-2021;
  • Entering a wet lease agreement with Alliance Airlines to operate Fokker 100 services on behalf of Virgin Australia between Brisbane-Alice Springs and Brisbane-Mt Isa from 19-Apr-2021;
  • Virgin Australia Regional Airlines to operate select services on mainline services between Perth-Darwin, Perth-Broome, Perth-Adelaide with A320 equipment. These arrangements will support the redeployment of the Boeing 737 aircraft to other markets. [more - original PR]