Virgin Australia has tinkered with its 737 MAX order, adding a quartet of MAX 8s to its MAX 10 order. The airline previously had 23 MAX 8s on order but after a 2020 restructuring, dropped that order later that year. Virgin Australia has reconsidered that decision and is returning the MAX 8, with the first of four recently ordered due to touch down in February 2023.

Virgin Australia returns to the MAX 8

The four MAX 8s don't match up to the original order for 23 of the planes, but Virgin Australia put out the call to Boeing after deciding to retire its Fokker 100 jets, replacing them with existing Boeing 737-700 jets. That's left a gap in the airline's operational capabilities as flying in Australia roars back towards pre-pandemic levels. With one eye also firmly on net-zero targets, the MAX 8 has come back onto Virgin Australia's radar. Virgin Australia CEO Jane Hrdlicka said,

"We are on track to return to 100% of pre-COVID domestic capacity by June this year and expect to well exceed those levels by year’s end, and our resources sector and contract flying in Western Australia is in high demand. This investment in our fleet reflects the increased demand we are experiencing in all parts of Virgin Australia."

Those sturdy Fokker 100s do brisk business servicing the Western Australia-based fly-in-fly-out resources and mining sector. Fokkers full of miners in high-vis gear and flying for various airlines are a familiar sight at Perth Airport. Virgin Australia joins most of those other airlines in implementing a Fokker succession plan.

MAX 8s are part of Virgin Australia's net-zero goals

Ms Hrdlicka says the 737-700s will fly more passengers for a similar amount of fuel than each Fokker 100, resulting in 30% less emissions per seat per trip. The 737 MAXs will reduce emissions by 15% per journey compared to the current mainstay of Virgin Australia's fleet - Boeing 737-800 NG aircraft.

“We are committed to building this business and positioning it for success into the long term. Continuing to modernize our fleet and develop the capability of our teams across Australia to support newer aircraft is an essential part of that success.

"Equipping our WA operation with more modern and efficient 737 aircraft positions us to grow and to better compete in the resources sector and contract flying market across Australia. It also enables Virgin Australia to improve fleet utilization across the Group.

“Existing Fokker 100 flight and cabin crew, VARA (Virgin Australia Regional Airlines) engineering and support staff, and corporate and operations functions will be progressively trained to operate and maintain a 737 NG fleet, both as Fokker 100 aircraft are retired and as the airline continues to grow its Western Australia resources sector and contract flying business.”

Virgin Australia is getting its mojo back

Virgin Australia will join startup airline Bonza flying the MAX 8 within Australia. If Bonza's plans pan out, their MAXs will be in the air before Virgin Australia's new jets. But Bonza hasn't locked in its air operator's certificate yet, and some pundits might argue Virgin Australia will pip it to the post.

After a very trying 2020 and 2021, Virgin Australia is getting its mojo back. Their planes are full, airport terminals are heaving, and fares (a good barometer of how business is going) are inching higher. Virgin Australia very nearly went out of business in 2020, and it's good to watch the airline start to flourish again. The decision to pick up the MAX 8s is another step forward for Virgin Australia.