VB/PB livery rebranding starts.

[Andrew Coggan]

It appears VH-VBP will be leaving the fleet today. Soon to depart Brisbane for Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah in Malaysia. For those interested you can follow it on FlightAware.

[Peter S.]

Originally Posted by Craig Murray

G'day Peter, FYI I photographed YFJ on delivery last week wearing the name "Surfers Paradise Beach".

Thanks Craig - the "Casuarina Beach" name came from Airways Magazine fleet updates - I had not seen it, so your details are good. Maybe that will be YIJ - they might be ahead of themselves!!

[Radi K]

Can confirm VBP is Subang bound. XFA is heading there from Melbourne on Sunday morning for a heavy check and cabin refurbishment.

[Rob C]

Radi K, could you eloborate further on the cabin refresh? Virgin have hinted that A and B weren't getting one.

[JamesL]

They will be refitted with the current offering as XFC/D/E has...

[Radi K]

Rob don't quote me but I have heard there will be an upgrade, esp in Biz but not to the same standard as XFC-E. Will wait and see.

Talking A330.. Attn BNE spotters, the A330 will make its first visit on 5 Sep ops DJ467/474 combo. Again Sat morn as DJ473/474 due large loads booked those days.

[Peter S.]

VH-YIJ is Pennington Bay or Beach [on Kangaroo Island].

I can confirm VH-YFJ as Surfers Paradise [Brisbane this morning].

VH-YIM soon to be delivered;
VH-YIT added to the list [still 6 to come].
Does anyone know why so many YI registrations [with International configuration - liferafts etc] are on order?

VH-VPH St Kilda Beach.

VH-XFA Cottesloe Beach
VH-XFB Cable Beach
VH-XFC Mooloolaba Beach
VH-XFD Bells Beach
VH-XFE Manly Beach

VH-VOK Johanna Beach
VH-VOQ Margaret River
VH-VUF ..................Hobart Honey
VH-VUG .................Jasmine Tasman
VH-VUY Snapper Rocks
VH-VUZ Lennox Head
VH-YFC Bondi Beach
VH-YFE Sunshine Beach
VH-YFF Wineglass Bay.......allocated, but not on aircraft.
VH-YFG Hanson Bay
VH-YFH Mindil Beach
VH-YFI Porpoise Bay
VH-YFJ Surfers Paradise Beach
VH-YFK Long Beach
VH-YFL Sandy Bay
VH-YVA Eurong Beach.......allocated, but not on aircraft.
VH-YVC Jetty Beach
VH-YVD Salmon Beach
VH-YIA Henley Beach .......allocated, but not on aircraft.
VH-YIB Trinity Beach ........allocated, but not on aircraft.
VH-YID Rainbow Beach
VH-YIE Fingal Beach
VH-YIF Sorrento Beach
VH-YIG Kings Beach
VH-YIH Hastings Point
VH-YIJ Pennington Beach
VH-YIM ...................................[has made first flight].

VH-VBY Kingston Beach

VH-ZPQ Main Beach
VH-ZPR Dundee Beach
VH-ZPT ...............no name yet

VH-FVH Four Mile Beach
VH-FVI Mission Beach
VH-FVL Preston Beach
VH-FVM Woolamai Beach
VH-FVU Double Island Point
VH-FVX Kirra Beach

ZK-PBA Peaceful Bay
ZK-PBB Indian Head
ZK-PBF Tapu'itea...................[Virgin Samoa]
ZK-PBJ Trigg Beach

[JamesL]

I would assume to replace the old PB aircraft...

[Rowan McKeever]

Flexibility... if a YI goes tech there'll be plenty more to sub for it

[Peter S.]

Originally Posted by JamesL

I would assume to replace the old PB aircraft...

Three of the four Pacific Blue repaints have been the oldest aircraft:
ZK-PBA former VH-VOO
ZK-PBB former VH-VOP
ZK-PBF former VH-VOR
along with VH-VOK

which based on the Virgin Australia business style would be a waste of money and time.

I had thought that it might be for the reason mentioned by Rowan:

"Flexibility... if a YI goes tech there'll be plenty more to sub for it "

that it allows them to have plenty of aircraft for substitution purposes [which is the style of smart thinking at Virgin Australia].