Virgin Australia's ATR

[Greg McDonald]

Nice pic of the new ATR scheme....and a good pickup from Tim B

http://www.jetphotos.net/viewphoto.php?id=7123192

[David Knudsen]

Those colours look great on the ATR, can't wait to go for a fly on one.

[Jakef]

Intriguing....

[John Arena]

I like it :)

John

[lloyd fox]

Anyone in the know .Are they to be delivered to Perth or Brisbane first.We all know they are technically Skywest aircraft but Virgin will operate them out of BNE .

I am hearing a 28june or thereabouts delivery for the first frame but destination not known ?

PER or BNE ???.

[Jack B]

Such a hideous airframe in my opinion...

[Rod Sloan]

Such a hideous airframe in my opinion...

Hate to imagine what you thought of a Shorts then :D

[Ryan Hothersall]

Colours don't look too bad on an ATR, much better than a 737 or A330.

[Damian N]

Nice pic of the new ATR scheme....and a good pickup from Tim B

http://www.jetphotos.net/viewphoto.php?id=7123192

Love the red props!!!:D:D:D

[Anthony T]

They are blade covers.

[Damian N]

They are blade covers.

...I realise that......just being cheeky..hence the multiple grins. The photo shows red props would look good on this livery but I doubt they could ever be certified??

[David Knudsen]

IL-18 ER-ICB that was resident in BNE for a while a few years ago has blue props (http://www.jetphotos.net/showphotos.php?regsearch=ER-ICB) so you'd assume it would be possible.

[Mike W]

Such a hideous airframe in my opinion...

I'm with you on that one Jack. I'm trying hard to get used to the Virgin Australia livery but I'm still struggling. The ATR has even made it harder to like it.

[Steve S... 2]

I think the ATR is a hideous looking airframe too, but the colours somehow brighten it up.

Wish I could design an aircraft, I'd make it nice on the eye lol.

[Ray P.]

I think the new scheme looks incredibly boring on the ATR airframe.

[steve k]

Perhaps low - viz grey???? might be in better stance with you?????:D:D:D

[Torin Wilson]

You would assume they could do any colour....

http://www.airliners.net/photo/Vietnam-Airlines/ATR-ATR-72-500-(ATR-72-212A)/1664743/L/

[Leon H]

Any news on delivery/entry to service?

I am hoping they'll be doing SYD-CBR sometime soon.

[Damian N]

You would assume they could do any colour....

http://www.airliners.net/photo/Vietnam-Airlines/ATR-ATR-72-500-(ATR-72-212A)/1664743/L/

Well that proves it - come on VA Jazz up the ATR with some red props!

[lloyd fox]

Leon i answered the delivery date earlier in this thread.

As far as i know EIS is late August.

SYD basing not till 2nd half of 2012.

Their fleet prospectus showed only 8 ATR 72's in service as at June 2013.

[Raymond Rowe]

Anyone know the rego block they will be using.

[Ray P.]

Perhaps low - viz grey???? might be in better stance with you?????:D:D:D

Correct Steve. Everything looks better in a low-viz grey scheme, although I would be equally sold on a SE Asian camouflage scheme with a black lower surface. ;)

Back on topic, I just think it looks boring on the ATR, though I think the Virgin Australia scheme looks okay on the A330. As a whole package, it just looks like the scheme is missing something.

[Peter Agatsiotis]

Anyone know the rego block they will be using.

Just received June Aviation Letter. First 2 reported as being registered VH-FVH and VH-FVI (both due to depart Toulouse on 30th June).
The report also states that they will have 4 -500's and 4 -600's in service by June 2013 so a very gradual introduction (eventual fleet as reported i.e. 8 -500's and 10 -600's).

[Ash W]

I thought the plan was for the -500's to come first as a temporary measure then replaced by the -600's. Is this no longer the case or am I mistaken?

[lloyd fox]

I was also under the impression after reading other sites that only 4 would be 500's and those 4 would be replaced by 600's early in 2012 then a further 14 600's to follow making 18 ATR-600'S.

[Brad M]

bit close to the RFDS rego's isn't it ?
would of been good to start something better with them...

[Brenden S]

The -500's will start on the east coast, then will be based on the west coast with the 600's replacing them on the east. Clever wording one would say.

[John Arena]

Will YSSY see any ATRs??

John

[lloyd fox]

Yes the 2nd half of 2012 Sydney will see them.

[Oliver Gigacz]

Yes the 2nd half of 2012 Sydney will see them.

What about YMML?

[lloyd fox]

YMML 2nd half of 2013 ??

[Jarden S]

How about up in CNS? would they do a calling at all stations run up from BNE.

[StevenW]

It would be interesting to see what a MEL-KGG-ADL-PLO-ADL-KGC-MEL or similar service could achieve for both Kangaroo Island and Port Lincoln tourism. The South Australian government has been pushing both Kangaroo Island and Port Lincoln as tourism destinations, but at the moment connections from interstate aren't very convenient.

I don't think such a route is likely, but it sure would be nice to see. Are both KGC and PLO capable of taking ATR-72's? I know Virgin wanted E170's to Port Lincoln a while ago but PLO couldn't handle 'em...

[Ryan Hothersall]

Qantaslink fly Dash 8-400s to Port Lincoln, so can't see why an ATR 72 can't land there.

[StevenW]

Qantaslink fly Dash 8-400s to Port Lincoln, so can't see why an ATR 72 can't land there.

Ha - I'm not sure how I forgot about that... considering I flew one to Port Lincoln a few months ago!

[Arthur T]

Are we going to see these birds to CBR? Or the existing CBR services will be replaced by E190 instead?

[Brock Little]

Arthur, DJ will undoubtedly use the ATRs on SYD-CBR runs when they get to SYD. Other routes to/from CBR, I don't know.
I'm hoping they will reinstate NTL-OOL-NTL as an ATR route. The ATR could go BNE-NTL-OOL-NTL-BNE.

[lloyd fox]

I think you will find that long distance routes such as BNE-CNS and BNE-NTL wont happen with the first 4 aircraft as they will most likely operate point to point flights with frequency out of BNE.Have a look at the major QFlink routes out of Brissie and that is most likely the routes ?

[Chris W]

I doubt PLO ex ADL will happen, as it is one of the only routes out of ADL to operate profitably and will have a high cost base if the operation is minimal (ie rotation for maintenance).

It will be interesting to see their route choice ex SYD. I saw DJ operate the E190 to AY the other day. I assume however that PMQ and AY will become ATR routes, but expansion to include DBO and OAG as well. I think REX currently underserve OAG and maybe take it for granted.

[Oliver Gigacz]

Virgin Australia's first ATRs are now in flight testing.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/a380spotter/5864060568/

[Oliver Gigacz]

More flight testing.

http://www.pictaero.com/en/pictures/picture,126832

[Brock Little]

Does anyone know when & where the first ATRs are due to arrive in Australia? They were due in a while ago...

[Will H]

Two this month according to ATR.

[lloyd fox]

Right at the end of the month is what i have heard today.Both coming together ?
Delivery is to BNE .

[John Arena]

Saw them flight testing in Toulouse 3 weeks ago, it was an awesome sight seeing them!

John

[Steve S... 2]

Hi...

Just read the first ATR's for Virgin Australia will operate on the following routes commencing October 2011...

Brisbane to Gladstone (twice daily)
Brisbane to Port Macquarie (daily)
Sydney to Canberra (additional to existing services)

I guess this means 1 ATR based in Brisbane, and 1 ATR based in Sydney.

Regards,

Steve S

[Steve S... 2]

Hi...

I just noticed a new thread for the above.

Sorry - bit confusing.

Steve S