Virgin Australia to lease more 737s

[MooTime]

Not yet.

As of last count, VA has 77 (+1 remaining ex-MI on the way) for a total of 78 aircraft.

48 are leased (IIRC about 10 of those leased aircraft are under the Per Hour lease deal), and the remaining 30 (Which originally bought outright) are still encumbered (mortgaged) from the previous ownership with Bain continuing to pay the mortgage on those 30 aircraft.

So does that mean your saying not a single aircraft in the VA shed in wholly owned? Sorry of 737 type.

I don't follow this side of things to closely at all, just interested, curiosity.

 

[jakeseven7]

So does that mean your saying not a single aircraft in the VA shed in wholly owned? Sorry of 737 type.

I don't follow this side of things to closely at all, just interested, curiosity.

God no, this is PE we are talking about! Nothing is owned anymore.

 

[HS-TQE]

God no, this is PE we are talking about! Nothing is owned anymore.

They weren't even owned before PE took over. The so-called saviours in SQ and EY did mortgage (asset-strip) the entire 'owned' Boeing fleet to the hilt.

Bain were lucky to convince the banks to take over the oldest mortgaged 737s alongside the 777 fleet. They wanted to reduce the mortgage bill that SQ/EY/HNA et al left them.

 

[MooTime]

They weren't even owned before PE took over. The so-called saviours in SQ and EY did mortgage (asset-strip) the entire 'owned' Boeing fleet to the hilt.

Bain were lucky to convince the banks to take over the oldest mortgaged 737s alongside the 777 fleet.

Ok thanks. Yes I did mean before Bain took over as you stated. I should've been more clear.

I thought pre-Bain VA owned a few 737's and just a couple 777's.

Anyway let's see how these 'thin' arm rests are liked/disliked!

 

[oz_mark]

God no, this is PE we are talking about! Nothing is owned anymore.

Not just PE airlines that don't own much!

 

[HS-TQE]

Ok thanks. Yes I did mean before Bain took over as you stated. I should've been more clear.

I thought pre-Bain VA owned a few 737's and just a couple 777's.

Anyway let's see how these 'thin' arm rests are liked/disliked!

Pre-Bain VA's only outright owned (non-mortgaged) fleet was a small fleet of VARA Fokkers and 1 A320 (which was legacy Skywest).

That sole A320 was sold not long after takeover, replaced with more leased ex-Tigerair A320s for FIFO.

 

[Must...Fly!]

That sole A320 was sold not long after takeover, replaced with more leased ex-Tigerair A320s for FIFO.

Though that was likely the plan prior to COVID. To be kind, FNP was not the most reliable aircraft.

 

[RAM]

Customers (aka AFFers) can have wider armrests or wider seating (ex-armrests) - we cannot have both unless someone figure's out a way to widen the fueslage.

Having sat next to a very nice but morbidly obese person who 'ran' to catch the flight to Korea from Sydney - I'd have preferred a wider seat for them (ex-armrests) so that less of their rolls of wet shirt & body were pressed up against me.

Very apologetic but after 5+ wet blankets used to try and shield me (by the stewardesses) I would have preferred the wider seated are option. Another few cms away would have been a major advantage.

 

[AIRwin]

Spotted this MI aircraft at BNE this morning:

 

[AIRwin]

Spotted this MI aircraft at BNE this morning:
View attachment 272888

MIssing the same afternoon:

 

[Harrison_133]

MIssing the same afternoon:

VH-IXJ (the last Silk machine to arrive) positioned BNE-TSV this morning for paint into VA livery.

 

[Harrison_133]

VH-IXJ (the last Silk machine to arrive) positioned BNE-TSV this morning for paint into VA livery.

Worth noting this aircraft is flying around the network with the orange Silk Air seats installed in the economy cabin, and the normal VA recliners in business.

 

[twinaisle]

Worth noting this aircraft is flying around the network with the orange Silk Air seats installed in the economy cabin, and the normal VA recliners in business.

Yeah it'll be like that until they get more seat covers/seats in.

Same goes for the headrests in rows 13/14 on the 2 hybrid cabins

 

[Saab34]

So in regards to the thread topic, when are these next lot of 737s coming? Still a bit of a mystery as to where they are coming from also.

 

[Harrison_133]

So in regards to the thread topic, when are these next lot of 737s coming? Still a bit of a mystery as to where they are coming from also.

-700’s from KLM seems to be the popular rumour floating around. Whether it’s true and when they’re coming, who knows. Would make some sense given KLM were trying to offload their -700’s with the arrival of E195 E2’s. They’re also relatively new when it comes to 737-700’s, 2009-2011 builds.

 

[RAM]

-700’s from KLM seems to be the popular rumour floating around. Whether it’s true and when they’re coming, who knows. Would make some sense given KLM were trying to offload their -700’s with the arrival of E195 E2’s. They’re also relatively new when it comes to 737-700’s, 2009-2011 builds.

Have they undergone the major maintenance check yet or is that a major cost coming soon for Bain I wonder?

 

[Saab34]

Have they undergone the major maintenance check yet or is that a major cost coming soon for Bain I wonder?

Good point. Seems to be at a ripe old age 10-12 years for its big check. Times that by half a dozen that’s a pretty big bill.

Wouldn’t be the first time foreign operated machines arrive with engineering problems galore.

 

[moa999]

Assume 700s will be cheap as they weren't that popular, but I thought the 700s VA previously had weren't exactly liked as the op cost wasn't that much different to the 800s.

 

[Saab34]

Assume 700s will be cheap as they weren't that popular, but I thought the 700s VA previously had weren't exactly liked as the op cost wasn't that much different to the 800s.

I think the 700s would be more targeting the 100~ odd seat market. Like Intra QLD, NTL, LST, ADL, CNS, CBR. Barely seem them outside of those routes at the moment. The Dash 800 is probably too big for most of those places, Qantas use 717.

Fairly clear they don’t want to expand the Alliance relationship much further. I would much rather see a expanded -700 fleet to target many of the smaller routes which they currently don’t offer or subcontract out to Alliance on those old Dutch ovens.

 

[AIRwin]

The Dash 800 is probably too big for most of those places, Qantas use 717.

Dash 800 too big?