Virgin Freighters
 

It's happening, in a Back to the Future move Virgin Australia will operate two or three (very) used BAe146 freighters. Advertising for pilots now. Someone has a nostalgia things for Ansett going on.

Of course its happening, this was made clear back in August with the Toll divorce, they just needed a customer, which they now have who just happen to have some spare birds - TNT.

FedEx is currently in the process of acquiring / merging with TNT... Interesting times ahead!

Hi,

Just a thought, could they operate 3 x Fokker 100 as freighters at all?

Instead of adding another type of aircraft to the fleet.

I don't recall ever coming across a Fokker 100 as a freighter though...

Regards,

Steve

Possible source of speculation... (comments throughout thread...) http://www.pprune.org/australia-new-...et-review.html

146s only temporary - operating under VARA AOC. 737s coming, leased 737s.

The 146's would give them the flexibility to operate during curfew periods out of Sydney....

Too bad they can't put VARA's Fokker 50's to good use and convert them to freighters!

Agreed but the major reason they are coming is because apart from the A330 - VA doesn't have the capability to conduct proper containerised loading for freight on any type.

TNT Express has awarded Virgin Australia (VA, Brisbane Int'l) a five-year, USD575 million contract to haul air freight across Australia for and on behalf of the global logistics firm.

According to The Australian newspaper, the contract will begin in July and will see Virgin using bellyhold capacity as well as dedicated freighter aircraft. The carrier is reportedly planning to wet-lease two BAE146 and one B737-300(F).
Virgin Australia had relied on Toll Aviation (TFX, Brisbane Archerfield) for its freight requirements up until June last year when it launched its own in-house cargo handling division.

Looks like the two BAE146's at Bankstown will get a repaint.