VAR Rationalises WA Fleet

[Greg Hyde]

Virgin to sell entire Fokker 50 fleet

Virgin Australia’s regional arm is disposing of its eight Fokker 50s and adding four Fokker 100s and an Airbus A320 as part of fleet and operational changes in Western Australia.
The 46-seat Fokker 50s have been used to serve West Australian government regulated routes to Albany, Esperance and Ravensthorpe in the state’s south west, as well as regular public transport (RPT) flights to Geraldton and charter and fly-in/fly-out services to other centres in the state.

However, with Virgin Australia Regional Airlines (VARA) confirming in September it would not bid to continue Albany, Esperance and Ravensthorpe in the current tender, as well as the changing nature of the mining sector given the transition from mining construction to production, the Fokker 50s have become surplus to requirements.
“Following an extensive review, the decision has been made to decommission and dispose of the airline’s eight Fokker 50 aircraft in the first half of 2016 due to a negative commercial outlook for its F50 operations,” Virgin said in a statement.

“The Virgin Australia Group continually reviews our operations, including our fleet, to ensure optimal utilisation and to meet customer demand.”
It was anticipated that the Perth-Geraldton route would be upgraded to the Fokker 100. Moreover, the cabin interiors of all 14 of the 100-seat aircraft were currently being upgraded.

Two of the four additional Fokker 100s Virgin was intending to acquire have already arrived in the fleet, after the airline purchased two Fokker 100s from Alliance Aviation in May.
The one additional A320 would increase Virgin’s number of the type to three.

http://australianaviation.com.au/201...kker-50-fleet/

[Yusef D]

I don't get why they'd keep let alone expand the A320 fleet in favour of similar aged/priced 738s, with all the pilots/engineers/spares that VA has. And I reckon I know my way around the 738 by now. I get the fact that charter requires lower capital (ie older) airframes than RPT due to lower daily utilisation.

[Greg Hyde]

A320 already in place, training done, cheap a/c available.

[Yusef D]

All those things apply for 738 with the larger base of crew/engineers/spares too.

[David Knudsen]

Assume it'd have something to do with VARA not having the 738 on it's AOC? Easier just to go with the established type maybe.

[Greg Hyde]

David, I agree totally.

Also, having a have spare 738's laying around to fulfill charter/contract work would be expensive.

[MarkR]

VARA are not adverse to having aircraft lying around dormant, especially if they are ATRs , then again VA have similar habits with 738s

[Ellis Taylor]

The A320s also have better field and payload performance from some of the trickier mine site airstrips in northern WA. Or so those in the know tell me.

[Radi K]

The extra A320 was reported incorrectly. No plans for a third at this stage as I understand it.

[Greg Hyde]

Maybe VARA should talk to Skippers about leasing their 2xF100 that haven't done much since they arrived ?