VA / TT Fleet departures

[Tristan S]

Originally Posted by Dave J

The 5 YF* airframes will be coming back. With different regos though.

OK cool! ..
Why different rego's though?

[James Smith]

Tristan, are the other two B738s you refer to that flew to GYR in December, the ex VUI & VUJ?

Of the five ex YF* aircraft 2-VYFN is the only one so far to have done a test flight since arriving in the US - a 1 hour 36 minute flight over Arizona from Goodyear on 7/4/21.

[Tristan S]

Originally Posted by James Smith

Tristan, are the other two B738s you refer to that flew to GYR in December, the ex VUI & VUJ?

Of the five ex YF* aircraft 2-VYFN is the only one so far to have done a test flight since arriving in the US - a 1 hour 36 minute flight over Arizona from Goodyear on 7/4/21.

Yep - VUI and VUJ (N341CG and N343CG) .. they were from a different lessor though I believe.

[Bob C]

I'm getting a bit confused by these movements.

I thought Virgin Australia Mk.2 intended to settle on 56 B737s for its operations. We've seen 52 in Perth so far this year - VUE and -YIW are yet to be seen and I very much doubt that we'll see -VBY and -VBZ.

So if 5 airframes are coming back from the USA does mean that V A intends to increase its fleet size or could they be replacements for existing airframes ?

[Greg Hyde]

I had read earlier this week that VA had all their a/c flying.

This would explain the need for extra a/c.

[Tristan S]

Originally Posted by Bob C

I'm getting a bit confused by these movements.

I thought Virgin Australia Mk.2 intended to settle on 56 B737s for its operations. We've seen 52 in Perth so far this year - VUE and -YIW are yet to be seen and I very much doubt that we'll see -VBY and -VBZ.

So if 5 airframes are coming back from the USA does mean that V A intends to increase its fleet size or could they be replacements for existing airframes ?

VA announced in March that they were looking to lease '8 or 9' additional aircraft: https://www.smh.com.au/business/comp...15-p57ax4.html

[Bob C]

Thanks for the replies guys ; I wasn't aware of that SMH report Tristan.

[James Smith]

I had read earlier this week that VA had all their a/c flying.

Just about Greg. Of the B738s that are remaining in the Virgin fleet, VH-VUX & VUY are still to return to service, VUX reported to have no engines as recently as 4/4/21. YVC is currently in HKG for maintenance and on return it is presumed that it will return to the VA fleet.

This totals 56 now flying and 3 to return to make 59.

[Tristan S]

Originally Posted by James Smith

Just about Greg. Of the B738s that are remaining in the Virgin fleet, VH-VUX & VUY are still to return to service, VUX reported to have no engines as recently as 4/4/21. YVC is currently in HKG for maintenance and on return it is presumed that it will return to the VA fleet.

This totals 56 now flying and 3 to return to make 59.

I'd concur with that.

[Steve S... 2]

Yes I also have 59 in the current fleet.

With 5 (of the 8 or 9 to be added back to the fleet) returning from the USA with new rego's (ex YFG, YFI, YFN, YFO, YFP) bringing it to 64.

* Plus 3 or 4 more and I wouldn't mind guessing it will be YFE, YFH, YFJ. That would also mean that none of the sky interior 738's were withdrawn.