They’re showing the current VA configuration but with Business bookable as economy, at least on the flights out of PER. I’m not sure if J is bookable from BNE, to be honest.

I have just had a look on Flight Aware at the Current KLM fleet of 10 aircraft. PH-BGF ferried to Norwich on 8/8/22, could it be the first??
BGK, BGL, BGT, and BGX are flying with KLM but, BGG, BGH, BGI, BGM, and BGQ are flying with Transavia.
Of the 8 that have left the fleet, 2 are flying with Luxair, from July 19, 2 with Equair from Dec 21 and 1 with Arik Air from Aug 21. There are 3 stored, 1 in Montpellier, France, 1 in Alguaire Spain and the other at Kaunas in Lithuania, one in Aug 21, one in Sep 21 and the other Dec 21.

List of the current KLM B737-700s

PH-BGF 30365/2714 Boeing 737-7K2(WL) CY142 15/12/08 Withdrawn@NWI
PH-BGG 30367/2835 Boeing 737-7K2(WL) CY142 18/03/09 InService
PH-BGH 38053/3119 Boeing 737-7K2(WL) CY142 16/12/09 InService
PH-BGI 30364/3172 Boeing 737-7K2(WL) CY142 16/02/10 InService
PH-BGK 38054/3292 Boeing 737-7K2(WL) CY142 11/06/10 InService
PH-BGL 30369/3407 Boeing 737-7K2(WL) CY142 23/09/10 InService
PH-BGM 39255/3569 Boeing 737-7K2(WL) CY142 26/04/11 InService
PH-BGQ 39256/3675 Boeing 737-7K2(WL) CY142 22/06/11 InService
PH-BGT 38634/3762 Boeing 737-7K2(WL) CY142 07/09/11 InService
PH-BGX 38635/3811 Boeing 737-7K2(WL) CY142 24/10/11 InService

As Dennis mentioned above BGF ferried to Norwich on 8/8, so potentially (maintenance & refresh & repaint) be available to VA late next month.

Kent, the a/c is PH-BGT which has returned to service & is in the above list.

Thanks Greg!

I agree it seems likely that BGF could be one of the first.

Of the now former KLM aircraft Dennis mentioned, OE-IBZ (former PH-BGR, since returned to lessor Avolon) is the one stored at KUN and I note it flew what appears to be a 1.5 test flight on the 19th of August. I wonder if it might also be headed this way?

From yesterdays Virgin (re-)announcement.


Virgin Australia has secured priority access to a Boeing 737NG full-flight simulator in Perth which will deliver a 25 per cent increase in domestic training capacity for more than 200 pilots based in Western Australia who are retraining on the aircraft type as the airline continues its growth of Boeing 737 aircraft.

Simulator access will be available as soon as April 2023 through a long-term partnership with global aviation training provider CAE.

Virgin Australia Group has today announced four additional Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft and priority access to a Boeing 737NG full-flight simulator that will be deployed in Jandakot, near Perth, as part of a long-term partnership with global aviation training provider CAE.

Full release

https://newsroom.virginaustralia.com...ight-simulator

OE-IBZ, one of the ex KLM 737's flew KUN/MCT yesterday. Today it left MCT at 07.37am and is now over the Indian Ocean flying south east to????? Is this the first for VA??

Also PH-BGF has returned to KLM in Amsterdam yesterday evening, so perhaps it is not coming???

IBZ well over India now, no indication of the destination yet.