Air TransportVirgin Australia takes delivery of new 737 MAX as first E190-E2 gets painted
Virgin Australia is moving forward with its fleet renewal program, taking delivery of another Boeing 737 MAX 8 while its first Embraer E190-E2 has emerged from the paint shop in Brazil.
The new 737 MAX, delivered through a sale and leaseback agreement with lessor Avolon, is the first of six aircraft scheduled under the deal. Virgin has been working with Avolon since 2011 and already operates eight leased jets from the Irish lessor.
With this handover, the airline now counts 12 737-8 MAX in its fleet, a model that will become the backbone of its domestic and short-haul international network.
At the same time, Embraer released footage showing Virgin Australia’s first E190-E2 sporting the carrier’s colors. The aircraft will be deployed primarily on charter operations, gradually replacing the aging Fokker 100s retired from service.
Although Virgin has not disclosed the final cabin layout, visuals suggest a configuration with eight business class seats and around 88 in economy, close to 96 seats in total. The model typically accommodates up to 112 passengers in a single-class layout.
Virgin Australia placed an order for eight E190-E2s in August 2024, four of which will be financed through a sale and leaseback arrangement with U.S.-based lessor Azorra.
The aircraft also carries an environmentally friendlier paint scheme applied using certified processes that cut volatile compounds by 15% and reduce paint consumption by 30%.
With the twin arrival of Boeing’s newest narrowbody and Embraer’s latest regional jet, Virgin Australia underscores its strategy of modernizing its fleet while balancing efficiency across different market segments.
https://twitter.com/embraer/status/1958786308366901676
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