VA Fleet & Operations

[Greg Hyde]

Ayden H Ayden H

Join Date: Jul 2024
Posts: 170
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9V-MGC will become VH-IJR.

[Greg Hyde]

Greg Hyde Greg Hyde
Join Date: Sep 2008
Posts: 5,012
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VH-REX was formally leased to VA on 21/11/2024

[Ayden H]

This is probably a better thread than VA/TT departures due to that being created for aircraft being repossessed during 2020/21.

[Greg Hyde]

That's why I created it.

[Tristan S]

RQP has arrived in MEL, due to WGA tomorrow.

[Dave J]

VH-REX likely to enter service on Friday 13th

[Robert.M]

RQP flight to WGA is delayed by an hour and a half so far.

[Robert.M]

Arrived an hour and 40 minutes late. Port side had a VA front engine cowling.

https://aviationspotting.au/_data/i/upload/2024/12/06/20241206193147-3ef28e1b-xs.jpg (https://aviationspotting.au/index.php?/tags/3177-vh_rqp)

[Lauren J]

Virgin Australia aircraft on order:

VH-REX (MSN 36609, LN 3232), 737-8FE
VH-RQP (MSN 37822, LN 3355), 737-8FE
VH-IJR (MSN 44219, LN 4882), 737-8SA
VH-??? (MSN 44220, LN 4926), 737-8SA
VH-8II (MSN 65121, LN 9216), 737-8
VH-8IJ (MSN 65126, LN 9226), 737-8
VH-8IK (MSN 65116, LN 9240), 737-8
VH-8VA (MSN 67034, LN 9250), 737-8
VH-8VB (MSN 67035, LN 9284), 737-8
VH-8VC (MSN 67036, LN 9295), 737-8

Plus eight Embraer E190-E2s, to be delivered from October 2025.

[Greg Hyde]

RQP was leased to VA on 09/12/2024

[Brenden S]

Apparently the E2's have been delayed by 6 months.

[Greg Hyde]

Originally announced as 2025Q2 delivery, delayed 6 months would make 2025Q4 which would agree with the above ETAs

[Yusef D]

Apparently the E2's have been delayed by 6 months.


Where did you see that? From what I've read the original EIS was Oct 2025.

[Brenden S]

Info from someone who works at VARA.

[Ayden H]

Does anyone know when VH-REX will enter service? I'm guessing it's having its cabin refitted in Melbourne to the new 182 seat config.

[Lauren J]

It's listed internally as being a 176-seater, not sure if they're intending to change that or not

[Ayden H]

Ah ok. Either way it would have to have the seats changed because Rex changed them due to the spat they had with VA re Economy X/Rextra

[Yusef D]

Virgin Australia aircraft on order:

VH-REX (MSN 36609, LN 3232), 737-8FE
VH-RQP (MSN 37822, LN 3355), 737-8FE
VH-IJR (MSN 44219, LN 4882), 737-8SA
VH-??? (MSN 44220, LN 4926), 737-8SA
VH-8II (MSN 65121, LN 9216), 737-8
VH-8IJ (MSN 65126, LN 9226), 737-8
VH-8IK (MSN 65116, LN 9240), 737-8
VH-8VA (MSN 67034, LN 9250), 737-8
VH-8VB (MSN 67035, LN 9284), 737-8
VH-8VC (MSN 67036, LN 9295), 737-8

So... if the latest delivered Max is LN 9008 (9M-MVF) does that mean there will be 208 deliveries before Virgin gets its next Max? That will take it way into 2025 if not beyond.

[Ayden H]

Not necessarily. Line numbers aren't always delivered in order, however with current production levels it looks unlikely to be delivered before 4Q25, or even 1Q26.

[Dave J]

VH-REX now 20th
VH-RQP WGA to MEL 17th

[Greg Hyde]

Not necessarily. Line numbers aren't always delivered in order, however with current production levels it looks unlikely to be delivered before 4Q25, or even 1Q26.

Good news, Boeing workers have returned to work, so they will be able to ramp up production unless the FAA finds more problems

[Dylan Hardie]

VH-REX now 20th
VH-RQP WGA to MEL 17th

REX got MEL-BNE planned for it's first VA flight followed by a couple Canberra returns

[Ayden H]

Good news, Boeing workers have returned to work, so they will be able to ramp up production unless the FAA finds more problems

Boeing is currently limited to producing 38 MAX aircraft a month by the FAA but haven't been building close to that since around 2019, though that restriction could change or be removed entirely next year.

[MarkR]

Qatar are looking at converting their 10s to 8s on order and then handing them to VA etc to lease

[Lauren J]

Interesting that they wouldn’t just give VA the Air Italy ones, but I guess they have a narrowbody market of their own to serve.

[Robert.M]

RQP is due out tomorrow from WGA at 9am. I’ll miss it again, working at that time.

[Dennis McLean]

VH-VUT due in BNE later today on return from Maintenance in XSP

[Dennis McLean]

Mistake, it is VUL on the way. But VUT has been in AUH in maintenance and was due to leave XSP at 08.30 today but has not moved yet.

[Robert.M]

REX still hasn’t done its first revenue service with VA yet.

[Tristan S]

Looks to be loaded into the schedule now, due to operate VA309 MEL BNE tomorrow (24DEC)

[Ayden H]

Schedule as follows STC:
24/12 VA309 MEL-BNE
24/12 VA702 BNE-HBA
24/12 VA705 HBA-BNE
24/12 VA342 BNE-MEL
24/12 VA291 MEL-CBR
25/12 VA1207 CBR-BNE
25/12 VA924 BNE-SYD
25/12 VA523 SYD-OOL
25/12 VA526 OOL-SYD
25/12 VA874 SYD-MEL

[Greg Hyde]

VH=REX returned to VA service this morning with VA309 MEL-BNE

[Robert.M]

Ended up doing VA1404 BNE-ADL, rather than going back to MEL. Scheduled ADL-SYD, SYD-ADL, ADL-ASP and ASP-ADL tomorrow.

[Tristan S]

RQP has now popped up in the schedule, showing as operating VA1293 - MEL CNS on 05JAN

[Greg Hyde]

RQP re-entered VA service today (04/01/2025) with VOZ827 departed MEL -> SYD

[Yusef D]

VA's growth plans are being stymied by lack of Max deliveries and low availability of 737NGs.

Now that the 2 ex-Rex 800s are flying the next two in are IJR and IXK ex Silkair, then the departure of 2 A320s and 3 VH-VU_ series 800s mid year.

Hoping for 6 Max 8 deliveries.

[Lauren J]

Thank you Yusef, can you confirm that IXK is Line Number 4926 and IJR is 4882? Do you also happen to know which VU_ registrations are likely to be culled?

[Yusef D]

I don't know which is which, Lauren, but planespotters gives IJR as 4882, so that's likely true.

As for the 800s, VUI and VUJ would have to be likely, they've missed out on a lot of mods like cabin, wifi, RAAS, they're from the same lessor and have come, gone and come again as a pair.

[Zac M]

If it’s three VU series could it possibly be the three 8KGs? VUW, VUY and VUZ?

[Lauren J]

If it’s three VU series could it possibly be the three 8KGs? VUW, VUY and VUZ?

VUZ is an 8FE, the two 8KGs (VUW/VUY) are possible but I would’ve assumed they’d start with some older aircraft. When COVID came they seemed to retire older 8FEs rather than the 8KGs/81Ds.

[Greg Hyde]

VH-IJR B737-8SA/44219 was added to the VH-Reg on 20/01/25 for VA

[Ayden H]

Will the two new birds be receiving the 8J174Y cabin?

[MarkR]

Probably already got them in kul

[Dylan Hardie]

9V-MGC/VH-IJR was flown from KUL-XSP as SQ8891 on the 13th

[Greg Hyde]

9V-MGC/VH-IJR was flown from KUL-XSP as SQ8891 on the 13th

It had maintenance & paint over Xmas in KL.

[Ayden H]

Another ex VA jet, VH-VOW, set to bite the dust at GWO. https://avitrader.com/2025/01/23/bas-acquires-b737-ng-for-disassembly/

[Greg Hyde]

Another ex VA jet, VH-VOW, set to bite the dust at GWO. https://avitrader.com/2025/01/23/bas-acquires-b737-ng-for-disassembly/

Previously mentioned in "Notable Movements Thread"

[Greg Hyde]

VH-IXK B737-8SA/44220 was added to the VH-Reg on 05/02/25 for VA

[Dylan Hardie]

IJR was planned XSP-BNE on the 13th but has since been cand

[Greg Hyde]

Both IJR & IXK are both sitting in Singapore waiting for delivery.

Like IJR, IXK spent time in KL for maintenance & I expect repaint.

[Dylan Hardie]

8IC off to Melbourne, FL via Honolulu

[Yusef D]

Finally getting internet.

[Yusef D]

8th Silkair 738 arriving Feb, 9th in March. They might be VA owned (others leased).

6 Max8s arriving in second half of 2025 of Boeing stays on track, potentially 3 in August.

VUI and VUJ leaving, followed by VUO.

Fleet may hit 100 737s in 2025. up to 8 in, 3 out. So could peak at 99.

[Lauren J]

IJR and IXK will be the only two 737s in the fleet with 27k engines, rather than 24k/26k (and 25k for the MAX). This is to help with hot and high performance in Western Australia.

[Radi K]

IJR and IXK will be the only two 737s in the fleet with 27k engines, rather than 24k/26k (and 25k for the MAX). This is to help with hot and high performance in Western Australia.

I thought all the ex SilkAir machines are becoming 27K

[MarkR]

I thought all the ex SilkAir machines are becoming 27K

Correct - all are 27s

[Lauren J]

Correct - all are 27s

The previous seven Silk 737’s engines have the ability to be 27k rated, but they are all currently derated to 26k. As for now, there are no 27k 737s in service in Australia: IJR and IXK will be the only two.

[Lauren J]

I thought all the ex SilkAir machines are becoming 27K

I believe there were plans to do this, but it was abandoned for cost reasons. The internal memo was clear that only IJR and IXK would be 27k rated, while the others are not.

[Ayden H]

I believe there were plans to do this, but it was abandoned for cost reasons. The internal memo was clear that only IJR and IXK would be 27k rated, while the others are not.

Do they have the Short Field Performance package?

[Yusef D]

Do they have the Short Field Performance package?


Yep. All 800s from YFC onwards including the Silkair airframes do.

Will the two new birds be receiving the 8J174Y cabin?

Yep. IJR has 182 seats. Existing Silkair 170 seaters to be converted to 182 seats, removing the extra stowages and larger galleys next.

Meanwhile...

First E2 is expected to be delivered n August, but not expected to enter full service until October. Cabin config tba. Would be VARA's first business class if they come 2 class.

[Dylan Hardie]

IJR operates VA9944 to Brisbane tomorrow

8IC due to operate VA9947 MLB-ONT-KOA-BNE

[Tristan S]

IJR scheduled to open its account tonight, BNE PER, before commencing ops in WA - as eluded to earlier in this thread.

[Greg Hyde]

IJR scheduled to open its account tonight, BNE PER, before commencing ops in WA - as eluded to earlier in this thread.

Wow, that was fast, normally they hang around longer than that

[Yusef D]

VARA continues to wet lease an Airnorth E190 for core contract flying out of Perth.

Can't tell if the A320 fleet has reduced from 7 to 5 or they're just in maintenance.

[Tristan S]

I'd guess VND, in XSP, is maintenance and VKQ is AOG - has sat in PER for a couple of weeks.

[Brenden S]

Airnorth have a contract flying for VARA until the end of December.

[Yusef D]

IXK should be here soon. IJR seems to have entered the fleet painlessly.

[Dylan Hardie]

IXK due BNE at 5:50pm on Tuesday as VA9942

[Greg Hyde]

IXK has started its ferry with a stop in Darwin

VA9942 departed XSP for DRW

[Yusef D]

VA(RA) wetleasing two Ainorth jets today, one E170, one E190, but likely just one line of flying.

[Tristan S]

VARA A320 VH-VKQ currently flying PER CNS using its rego as its callsign - first of the two fleet departures?

[Dave J]

All VARA A320s will be gone by next year

[Ayden H]

All VARA A320s will be gone by next year

Replaced by the E2s?

[Dave J]

Replaced by the E2s?

No, NGs and seasonally the MAX.

[Brenden S]

The A320 gap is being filled by the 737NG for the time being and the E2 is a replacement for the F100. Alliance and Airnorth are currently doing some flying for VARA now.

[Greg Hyde]

VKQ is currently on its way across the Pacific to the US where it is expected to be scrapped.

[Ayden H]

PER-CNS-APW-KOA-VCV or MZJ

[Greg Hyde]

PER-CNS-APW-KOA-VCV or MZJ

I wouldn't put money on your "educated guesses" as VKQ has landed at P08 (Coolidge, AZ) where the QF A319's were stored.

[Greg Hyde]

IXK is scheduled to enter service this arvo with VA1394, BNE to ADL

[Greg Hyde]

VKQ was deleted from the VH-Reg on 19/03/2025 as 11.130 - Cancelled - Registration Holder Request - Exported to - United States of America

It is expected to be scrapped

[Stuart McCarthy]

VH-VNR will depart Tuesday 25th March to Coolidge Airport Arizona for scrapping, routing via CNS .
Its last flights were on 27/02 PER-BYP-PER.

[Greg Hyde]

VNR is on its way to CNS

[Greg Hyde]

VNR has completed her last flight to Coolidge, AZ

[Ayden H]

The remaining five A320s with VA are still in active service as of 27/3/25.

[Stuart McCarthy]

VARA are using Alliance F70 & Air North E190's on their FIFO in/out of Albany

[Brenden S]

Alliance has 2 lines of flying and Airnorth 1 line of flying for VARA