Virgin converts 737-800 orders to the MAX

[Greg Hyde]

Virgin converts 737-800 orders to the MAX

Virgin Australia is converting orders it holds for 17 Boeing 737-800 aircraft into 737 MAX 8 orders.
Virgin already has 23 737 MAX 8s on order, so this conversion will take its total order book for the type to 40. The airline’s first MAX delivery remains on track for 2018.

http://australianaviation.com.au/2015/08/virgin-converts-737-800-orders-to-max/

Note: Fleet predictions at bottom of report

[Ash W]

As mentioned in the facebook feed of this, the real story is not the conversion as such, but the fact they are delaying new aircraft and growth (hence the orders become MAX). They are also turning over 3 737-800's to Tigerair to operate Bali, and of the non MAX aircraft they plan to receive they will be a 3 for 4 (nett increase of 1 aircraft) replacements for older leased aircraft.

[MarkR]

As mentioned in the facebook feed of this, the real story is not the conversion as such, but the fact they are delaying new aircraft and growth (hence the orders become MAX). They are also turning over 3 737-800's to Tigerair to operate Bali, and of the non MAX aircraft they plan to receive they will be a 3 for 4 (nett increase of 1 aircraft) replacements for older leased aircraft.

Actually it will be a fleet decrease, two aircraft will be disposed of in addition to the three lease returns for VA, although the arrival of Tigers 14th A320 will mean group wise it's more a case of status quo.

[Steve S... 2]

Three lease returns in financial year FY16 - so that would include VUM & VUN that are just leaving Australia now?

And presumably the other, is the leased VOX?

[JamesL]

Tigerair only have 13, aircraft 14 due this month, the other 2 A320's listed are Virgin Branded VARA aircraft, FNP/YUD

[JamesL]

I think you'll find that VUM/N/OX will be the TT aircraft.

[MarkR]

I think you'll find that VUM/N/OX will be the TT aircraft.

Thanks for the correction re the Tiger fleet. Given VUM headed OS I doubt it will be back and is one of the three leaving the fleet to go back to their owners. With Tiger taking over in Feb, it's probably to early to do the conversions.

[Mackenzie Davis]

Any idea of what the registrations of the two additional ones which are going to disposed of? Hopefully not VBY and VBZ, the two -700s left :(

[Daniel M]

Thanks for the correction re the Tiger fleet. Given VUM headed OS I doubt it will be back and is one of the three leaving the fleet to go back to their owners. With Tiger taking over in Feb, it's probably to early to do the conversions.

Perhaps overseas to be stored before being repainted and converted ?

[MarkR]

Perhaps overseas to be stored before being repainted and converted ?

It's a possibility I suppose but unlikely, the aircraft has after all been idle in Melbourne for some time and I suspect it is on a 8 year lease, ending early October, making the trip OS to have its end of lease check done. Then again she and her sisters are hardly the oldest birds in the fleet, so anything is possible.

[Arthur T]

Same as other types on VA's fleet, if in the next year or two they need more aircrafts for growth they can simply lease some second hand planes of the same type from the market as they are readily available; so to A330s if they need more for International Long Haul, they can ask Singapore Airlines to give them some.