Virgin Australia B737 Max 8

[AIRwin]

Assuming 8IC travels onward to BNE (either non-stop or via NAN) after landing in KOA.

 

[AIRwin]

Assuming 8IC travels onward to BNE (either non-stop or via NAN) after landing in KOA.

Looks like it will be non-stop

 

[MarkD]

Looks like it will be non-stop
View attachment 345624

8IA came nonstop as well. Must be right up there range wise. Obviously no weight so range increased

 

[Harrison_133]

It's going via NAN, due to arrive there about 10:30am AEST.

It skipped the NAN stop. Currently tracking over Vanuatu.

 

[brentonnn]

Does anyone know what routes VA plan to rotate this new bird on?

 

[Harrison_133]

Does anyone know what routes VA plan to rotate this new bird on?

For the next two aircraft, the schedules currently show the following routes:

• Effective October 9th: BNE-CNS/PER
• Effective October 30th: SYD-BNE/MEL/PER

As usual, subject to change.

Given the configuration of the MAX is identical to the -800, they will most likely rotate through the whole network and not stay fixed to those schedules.

 

[AIRwin]

Effective October 30th: SYD-BNE/MEL/PER

I noticed a BNE-SYD flight on October 29th

 

[Harrison_133]

I noticed a BNE-SYD flight on October 29th

Good catch.

There appears to be a BNE-SYD-BNE rotation on Sundays effective 15th October. It would be in place of the 6:10am BNE-CNS flight which doesn’t operate on Sundays.

 

[kerfuffle]

I noticed a BNE-SYD flight on October 29th

Hey that might be mine haha I guess you don't know what time?

Edit: doesn't seem to be my afternoon flight

 

[Harrison_133]

The second MAX aircraft (VH-8IC) is scheduled to enter service tomorrow.

Currently scheduled on:

Sat 30 Sep & 03/04/05 Oct
VA771 Brisbane - Cairns
VA776 Cairns - Brisbane
VA466 Brisbane - Perth
VA471 Perth - Brisbane

Sun 01 Oct
VA464 Brisbane - Perth
VA469 Perth - Brisbane

Mon 02 Oct & Fri 06 Oct
VA308 Brisbane - Melbourne
VA323 Melbourne - Brisbane
VA332 Brisbane - Melbourne
VA347 Melbourne - Brisbane

Subject to change

Live Flight Tracker - Real-Time Flight Tracker Map | Flightradar24

 

[BAM1748]

Scoot already offer 14kg carry-on default/free for J passengers, including those that booked on multi-leg itineraries with A320/321neos (all-Y) and 788/789s.

I’m pleased to say I wouldn’t know what Scoot offer.

 

[AIRwin]

The second MAX aircraft (VH-8IC) is scheduled to enter service tomorrow.

It is scheduled on its first HND rotation tomorrow

 

[Bagpuss]

VH-8IB still hasn't flown since 21 September. I wonder if it's subject to the current build issues.

 

[Saab34]

VH-8IB still hasn't flown since 21 September. I wonder if it's subject to the current build issues.

Apparently rivet issue in the rear, so they join the queue with everyone else. Could be months.

Very slow rollout with the MAX sadly. Meanwhile JQ seems to be getting a 321N every few weeks.

 

[Saab34]

Would appear the next 737 is coming home via Florida, getting modifications done, assuming Wifi and Divider.

 

[AIRwin]

Would appear the next 737 is coming home via Florida, getting modifications done, assuming Wifi and Divider.

VH-8IB has been flown to Melbourne, Florida

 

[ben95]

Given the configuration of the MAX is identical to the -800,

Was the 8x MAX 8 added back to the order book solely for the HND route until Bain floats the company and the new owner reconsiders whether there’s place for wide body in the fleet?

The MAX 10 order still make sense on the domestic network but seems like it would make more financial sense to lease used 737-800s then getting new MAX 8.

But of course from an operations perspective the Qantas group (Jetstar probably) will probably run rings around Virgin once they start getting their A321XLR

 

[Saab34]

Was the 8x MAX 8 added back to the order book solely for the HND route until Bain floats the company and the new owner reconsiders whether there’s place for wide body in the fleet?

The MAX 10 order still make sense on the domestic network but seems like it would make more financial sense to lease used 737-800s then getting new MAX 8.

But of course from an operations perspective the Qantas group (Jetstar probably) will probably run rings around Virgin once they start getting their A321XLR

Used NGs typically come with increased engineering bills, unreliability, costs associated with heavy checks and so on, I think I read on here that Bonza pays less per MAX on lease vs Rex and its newer NGs. Bonza has minimal engineering bills, Rex not so much.

Doubt VA will be impacted by the A321. Will give some efficiencies on a seat cost basis for QF, but we all know they won’t be passing anything onto customers. All VA short haul ops are largely bilaterals, you will see some swapping out equipment on these routes by all players in an effort to pull back seat costs. Jetstar A321 to Bali is a good example, 787s mostly off, A321s on, overall capacity remains the same, seat costs down, margins up, fares not down though!

Virgin will probably enter widebody ops again, the question is which future owner will take v
VA down this path, remains to be seen how many key investors they have will in the future, each decade will likely have a different owner.

 

[HS-TQE]

Was the 8x MAX 8 added back to the order book solely for the HND route until Bain floats the company and the new owner reconsiders whether there’s place for wide body in the fleet?

The MAX 10 order still make sense on the domestic network but seems like it would make more financial sense to lease used 737-800s then getting new MAX 8.

But of course from an operations perspective the Qantas group (Jetstar probably) will probably run rings around Virgin once they start getting their A321XLR

IIRC, all the VA MAX-8s are registered to "Virgin Australia International", and the tentative timetable from NS24 (March 2024) has all 4x MAX 8s primarily on Short Haul International services from MEL/BNE/ADL-DPS, and East Coast to Nadi and Apia. This is alongside the existing CNS-Haneda service.

On the other hand it does free up the Split-Scmitar 738s currently on VA's International services for other runs.

 

[Harrison_133]

VH-8IB has been flown to Melbourne, Florida

Scheduled to depart MLB on Wednesday.